Crochet Pikachu Hat (and tail)

My 2 year old wanted to be "Pikachu-chu" for Halloween.
What is it with kids and Pikachu? All of my kids have gone through (or are going through...) their Pokemon stage, and Pikachu is always a favorite.
Ok. I admit... Pikachu is my favorite, too.
But as far as my 2 year old is concerned, "Pikachu-chu" is right up there on the same level as Elmo... we're talking obsessed!
Halloween is over, and she still loves her hat!

Click the link below for the pattern:

Pikachu Hat and Tail

Click here to see which super parties I link up to!

#ACraftersDream Christmas Giveaway Winner!!!

Congratulations!

We have a WINNER for A Crafter's Dream Christmas Giveaway!

I want to thank all of the bloggers and shop owners 

who participated and made this group giveaway

such a great success!

Thank you to my wonderful co-hosts, 

My Merry Messy Life and Tutus and Tea Parties!

I also want to thank everyone who participated!

Remember, if you didn't win, 

we would love for you to keep the wonderful 

participating small businesses in mind 

for all of your shopping/gift needs!
And the winner is.....
Misty S.
Please check your inbox for your email conformation.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I would like to extend an extra special thank you to 

Madwestdesigns and Piper Pixies Tutus 

for sponsoring my part of the giveaway! 

You are both WONDERFUL to work with!

Click here to see which super parties I link up to!

Make Your Own Cream of Whatever Soup

***This is an old post moved here from my old blog.*** 

    Hi! I have a special Make-it-Yourself Monday post today. My friend Evin has an AWESOME blog, Food Good, Laundry Bad. Seriously, check it out. She is smart and funny and an amazing cook! She was nice enough to share one of her recipes with us here for Make-it-Yourself Monday.
Thank you, Evin!

Make it Yourself Monday - Cream of Whatever Soup

We all have those recipes that call for condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup - or celery or chicken or whatever. I call it COW Soup. Cream of Whatever. Those recipes are pretty traditional, and usually pretty easy and always good.

Those cans of soup, however? They're just gross. Full of sodium and chemicals, and who knows what is in the cans themselves! Not to mention pricey! Even with a coupon, the name brand soups can get up there. Here is a quick and easy way to make COW soup at home, with ingredients that you can trust, for just pennies.

2 tbsp butter
1/2 cup whatever*
2 tbsp flour
1/2 cup broth (vegetable or chicken - water works too)
1/4 cup cream
salt and pepper to taste

Melt the butter in a medium sized skillet over medium heat. Add your diced ingredients, and cook about 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the butter and cook, stirring constantly, until LIGHTLY brown. Add the broth and whisk vigorously. It will begin to bubble and thicken. Turn the heat up to medium high and bring the mixture to a fast simmer, whisking or stirring constantly. Add the cream and continue to whisk. When the mixture coats the back of a spoon, you're done! Season with salt and pepper and continue on with your casserole.

*Some ideas for "whatever" are: diced mushrooms, minced garlic (you would only need a few teaspoons for that), cooked and diced chicken, turkey, or ham, celery, asparagus, broccoli - anything that suits your taste - and any combination! Our favorite is garlic and chicken.


Thanks for letting me guest post! This was a lot of fun... I can't wait to see more Make it Yourself Monday posts!

A Lesson in Flexibility

I've always known that it is important to be able to be flexible with things.
Sometimes things just happen and we have to adapt. This is one of the reasons that we don't keep to strict daily schedules for things.

Flexibility also comes in handy for chronic procrastinators.
This is a lesson that I have learned many times.
Like the other day.
The very day before Halloween, to be exact.
The day evening (procrastinator, remember?) that I went to Walmart to buy a pumpkin for the kids to carve (more on that, later), pair of yellow sweat pants and a yellow sweatshirt for my 2 year old's "Pikachu-chu" costume, and a piece of brown felt (to make the 2 stripes on the back) to complete it. I had already crocheted the hat/ears and tail. Easy, right?
WRONG!
Walmart did not have anything yellow.
Nothing.
I looked in the toddler department. I looked in the girl's and boy's departments too. Nothing. Not a plain yellow shirt of any kind. Not a pair of yellow pants to be seen anywhere. I even looked for tights! Nope.

I had to be flexible.
I had to adapt.
I finally settled on buying a yard and a half  of bright yellow fabric and 3 inches of brown fabric. Yes. That's right. 3 inches. I looked at the little felt squares, and they were completely out of brown. I refused to but a whole yard, or even half of a yard, so three inches, it was. I bought a little package of elastic, and I knew I had some Stitch Witchery at home.
Can you guess what I spent most of Halloween day doing?

Crochet hat and tail pattern coming soon! :-)

Now... about that pumpkin...

I See Faces, Fun

Do you see faces in things?
Yesterday, when I toasted an English Muffin for breakfast, I spread some Smart Balance on it, and I swear it made a smiley face as the spread melted. haha!

Later, I was eating chips.
I saw this:

 Do you see it?
My oldest son didn't.
He laughed at me.