One-Yard Wonders - Inspiration for the weekend!

The world of sewing is still so new to me and sometimes seems overwhelming, there are patters, lots of types of fabrics, and a great big machine with lots of buttons. But I found a way to make it seem less overwhelming, the book One Yard Wonders is full of seemingly simple ideas that only require one yard of fabric. There is a variety of patterns, ideas, materials, and styles to make and some really beautiful pieces. Here are a few from the book that I love:

Weekend in Pictures

Went on a walk to see what flowers we could find in our complex. We have many beautiful ones on the grounds. My son will fake sneeze anytime he sniffs a flower, hes a silly one!

Played a new outdoor game by the pool, ladder ball. My son loved that we were throwing balls at an object for fun! He did land some in the bushes and almost hit me a few times but it was fun.

Watched Men's College Gymnastics on TV. My son was using the top of the couch as a pommel horse lol. This is his landing pose with arms up in the air.

Practicing swimming in the pool with floaties on. I am so hoping in the next few weeks we can attempt more in the pool with no floaties. I wanted him to learn to swim by the end of this summer. He has mastered swimming with his head under the water, just need more paddling and kicking at the same time. We will get there.


We had a good weekend relaxing at home and spending time together. We are trying to enjoy the summer we have left. Thankfully it does not get cold until about October around here.

What did you do over the weekend?

A very vintage weekend...

This weekend consists of taking pictures of my beautiful, vintage inspired, little sister Megan, some thrifting in hopes of some vintage finds and taking in a movie in a local old theater with my wonderful husband. Here to the weekend, hope you enjoy yourself and find joy in the little things.

Weekend In Pictures

Weekend In Pictures - Annual Father's Day Hike

View of our 2nd Annual Father's Day walk!

My husband talking to Liam about something while carrying Ashley in the pack, what a man!!

 I was there too, and I even carried Ashley around for a bit to lighten his load :)

This kid!! So thankful for his wonderful Dad.

Father's Day was a great day around here. We started a family hike on a trail by our house last year and it has officially become an annual Father's Day event. I love it when traditions come about in such a natural way. My husband is an amazing father and my children and I are so very lucky to have him. He is works so hard for our family and always has time for a little fun, he is simply the best!

Martha Stewart Double-Chocolate Brownies

I LOVE BROWNIES! So over the weekend I made Martha Stewart Double-Chocolate Brownies and they were amazing!! Here is the recipe, try it out, you won't be disappointed.

 

 

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for pan
• 6 ounces coarsely chopped good-quality semisweet chocolate
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch-process)
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a buttered 8-inch square baking pan with foil or parchment paper, allowing 2 inches to hang over sides. Butter lining (excluding overhang); set pan aside.
   
2. Put butter, chocolate, and cocoa in a heatproof medium bowl set over a pan of simmering water; stir until butter and chocolate are melted. Let cool slightly.
   
3. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl; set aside.
   
4. Put sugar, eggs, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and beat on medium speed until pale, about 4 minutes. Add chocolate mixture; beat until combined. Add flour mixture; beat, scraping down sides of bowl, until well incorporated.
   
5. Pour batter into prepared pan; smooth top with a rubber spatula. Bake until a cake tester inserted into brownies (avoid center and edges) comes out with a few crumbs but is not wet, about 35 minutes. Let cool slightly in pan, about 15 minutes. Lift out brownies; let cool completely on a wire rack before cutting into squares.
   

Weekend in Pictures

Its the end of the year so while I was at work I told my husband to sort our son's clothing for what to save for a one day child, donate to charity or needs to be recycled. Apparently they have a lot more fun during organizing time than I do lol.

Weekend In Pictures - Homemade Gingerbread Houses

Weekend in Pictures - Decorating the Christmas Tree

Weekend Wrap Up

JJ and I at his 6th Birthday Party this weekend!!

We celebrated JJ and his 6th birthday over the weekend. I cannot believe that my oldest is now 6 years old!! We took the birthday boy and his friends swimming, it was a blast and we survived!
 
What a whirlwind our lives have been.

I'm sure everyone is feeling the same way these days. 

Now on to the week of Thanksgiving...

I am going to breath and remember that the pressure I am putting on myself for Thanksgiving is silly really.

Thanksgiving is a time to relax and enjoy family and friends. It is a combined effort between all who are attending and it always comes together beautifully in the end.

Again, I am going to breath and remember that the pressure I am putting on myself for Thanksgiving is silly really.

Here's to a week of Thankfulness!!!!

~ Sam

Weekend In Pictures

~ By Sam ~

I have dropped the ball a bit on the decorating for Halloween. I like to try to get things up by the first weekend in October, here we are almost right smack dab in the middle of the month and I am just now getting around to decorating. I am going to blame in on the rain, or errr lack of rain. The weather had been so sunny and beautiful I forgot it was October in Washington. The rain has rolled in this weekend and I was quickly reminded it was in fact October and Halloween is coming!! What's the point in decorating if you can't enjoy it for a bit? So we worked on the front porch, it is simple this year, way more simple than normal. But hey, I got a late start.

Cleaning off the porch and emptying the Halloween bucket before we get started.

JJ working hard on putting the spiders in the web!

The almost finished product, pretend there are a ton of pumpkins and spiders all over. It is a start right?

Weekend in Pictures at the Seattle Zoo

This weekend the weather was amazing! The sun was shining, which is rare in Seattle this time of the year. Usually we are drenched with rain wishing we could spend more time outdoors. We decided to take full advantage of the great weather and head to the Seattle Zoo. We invited some of our favorite friends and enjoyed the day.

JJ climbing up to get a better view of the hippo, who is usually hiding when we go to see him.

The boys watching the monkeys in this great waterfall habitat.

Liam always up to something!

Ashley had a great time in the indoor play area!

The boys again holding hands...love it.

JJ, Liam and I at the flamingos, with me sneaking in some kisses.