A *Gnu* product for you to try!

I'm a HUGE fan of fiber - and these bars are FABULOUS! Here's some product info:

• One bar deliciously provides almost 50% of the Daily Value of Fiber
• Smile. Gnu Bars promote natural regularity and digestive health, gently and effectively
• Fiber helps lower cholesterol which is good for your heart
• Fiber absorbs and helps eliminate toxins from your body
• Fiber-rich foods aid in weight loss by making you feel fuller longer
• Low Fat with only 130 -140 calories

My sister-in-law, Lin, found these recently and gave me one when I saw her last - I was a little skeptical at first b/c I find most bars to be nasty, but this one is different! I can't vow for the other flavors, but the Cinnamon Raisin Bar is pretty yummy and is the perfect snack-size / keep-in-your-bag-for-emergency-hunger-size.

They are having a sale (15% off) through their website until Sept. 9. I've searched high and low for stores that carry them, but haven't been successful - their web store is the way to go :)

KIDPOOP Feature!

Hi everyone! Just got word that we're being featured on KIDPOOP this week! It's a great site for info. on kid's goodies and has lots of links with discounts / coupons. Click here to see Monkey Foot Designs listing (and to access a 10% off link thru 9/30/07!).

There's a spot for visitors to leave feedback and leave a star rating (just put your cursor over the star rating that you'd like to leave, click, and then your rating is entered!) - if you've got a free minute or so, please let them know your thoughts - I'd really appreciate it! :) TIA!

It's HOT!!!

Syd and I spent the day at Wolfeboro visiting "Da-da" while he's there for work - it's HOT HOT HOT! out there - 91?! What happened to the 70 degree days we had earlier this week? How I wished I had brought our bathing suits... Hindsight...

While the visit was somewhat short (we had to leave on account of the heat and Syd's crankiness), it was fun. We visited their local book store (where we bought the Skippyjon Jones doll the last time we were there) and as soon as we got to the kid's section Syd started repetitively screaming "Codi-o-dio". You see, we have a dog named Cody and Sydney absolutely adores him - and I think that he, unlike our yellow lab(Higgins), is quite fond of her as well.

Sitting on the shelf was an adorable little deer friend (that resembles Cody an awful lot!) from the book: Stranger in the Woods (a book with fantastic nature photography and a cute storyline to boot). We couldn't get Syd to leave the store without buying it (we're so weak...) so now she has a portable "bubba" (our nickname for the dogs). The funny thing is that Cody has been carrying it around the house since we came home - he never likes stuffed animals!

On the project front, I finished up some UFO's last night for Syd - I needed a break from sewing belts and these called to me.

I had bought the fabric for the 2 pair on the right a while back from Hancock's of Paducah when they had one of their big sales (I think 1/2 yard was $2 or something crazy like that). I was planning on making her a patchwork skirt with the different prints, but opted for pants b/c I'm really loving her in pants these days - she's into everything and somehow I feel like her legs are better protected. That, and well, they're so darned cute!

Ah! Before I hop off, I have to share my favorite salad recipe of all time - it's a salad that garners the "Wow! That's quite a salad honey!" from my husband. In his language that means "Yikes! Please don't ever try to serve that to me!" - only b/c he finds the pairings to be odd.... you be the judge:

Spinach and Friends Salad
(dole out the ingredients as you see fit)

Baby Spinach
Crumbled Goat Cheese
Sliced Almonds
Craisins
Hard-boiled eggs
Granny Smith Apple
Newman's Light Balsamic Vinaigrette

New critters

Don't these new fabrics from Alexander Henry make you smile? :)

Livin' Large

Yep, that's me... feeling quite large these days and just starting the third trimester slow-down that I've been dreading. We've got about 6 weeks to go! We're not really sure if Sydney "gets it" or not - she turned 18 months today, so you never know... She sure does love to show me her belly though! She's in the emulation stage right now, so I feel like I've got a Mini-Me running around. I wonder if I talk to and touch the baby too much? :)

It's been pretty busy around here with house projects and trying to squeeze some fun out of the last days of summer. I love fall, but am really going to miss the relaxing mornings at the lake!

I haven't started the bedding/home sewing projects that I mentioned in my last post b/c I'm finishing up some custom orders and other odds and ends, like these fun pouches (I finally made something with the cute birdie fabric!),

and a wholesale belt/headband order for Gina at JODS (an online equestrian gear store). She's in the NY area, so look for her goodies at local horse shows!

I've also started the grand freezer-stock-up (stuffed shells, lasagna, etc.) in preparation of Baby V, and have been playing around with some neat *treats* recipes, like this one that I brought to playgroup the other day:

Blueberry Thingys (makes 4)

1 tube of crescent rolls (makes 8 crescents)
4oz. cream cheese (half of a rectangular package)
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup blueberries

- Preheat oven to 375
- mix cream cheese and sugar in a mixer
- Unroll the crescent rolls into 4 rectangles (there will be a perferation between the triangles) - use your finger to press along the perferation to join the 2 triangles
- spread the cream cheese/sugar mixture onto the rectangles (leaving a 1/2" border of pastry)
- pile on some blueberries
- bring the opposite corners of the rectangle together and squeeze the dough to join in the middle
- Bake 11-13 minutes or until golden brown on an UNGREASED cookie sheet

(might be good too if you sprinkled a little sugar on top of it before you put it in the oven)


Of course I didn't think to bring a bib for Sydney... (I swear that mommy-brain is a real disease!)

The shirt actually looked twice as bad as this picture... can you believe that Spray and Wash and a soak in Oxyclean actually got it all out?! I was shocked!

Some other random goodies: COOL MOM PICS has released their 2007 Back to School Shopping Guide and it's chock-full of neat sites and coupons/discount links. Monkey Foot Designs is mentioned about 3/4 the way down the page and there's a link for 15% off your order thru the end of September - I just received several new children's (fairies, kitties and camo!) and adult ribbons and will add them to the site within the next couple of days. Here's a pic of MFD's new DaVinci belt - this ribbon is gorgeous!

I hope everyone's doing well! I'd love to hear what projects you're up to :)

Feathering Our Nest

It's crunch time now - need to decide on a paint color for our bedroom now that we've moved everything from the room into our spare bedroom. We'll be set to paint this week (I'm hoping to get most if it done during Syd's naptime)... and I think that I've decided on a simple off-white (which we actually have 5 extra gallons of from when we did the kitchen last year - love saving $!). I've been itching to paint the room chocolate brown (how cozy!) but it won't work with the Nigella prints that I ordered. Is it pathetic to base one's room color on one's current fabric obsession?

Anyways, I think it'll go well with what I've chosen for our bedding:

I'm going to use this pattern for the quilted coverlet (and maybe some pillow shams):

The center panel:


The borders:

And I'm hoping to add some more color (and fun!) to the room with some simple curtain accents and this pattern:

In these prints (and maybe some others...):

The other 2 rooms that need some sprucing up are the guest room/office and the den. The den is easy - we have it painted a color that I LOVE (Weathersfield Moss by Benjamin Moore) and we'll get some nice wooden blinds for the window treatments. I'll make a bunch of fun pillows with some more of the AB Nigella fabrics - the goal is a comfy and welcoming room.

The guest room is going to be a little more difficult, b/c I'd like to use:

But... those colors are all too girly for my hubby.... so, I might get to use this instead (the room is painted the color of the green in the flowers):

And will need to figure out what coordinates with it. I really do love the pink/green fabrics... I'll keep working on him :)

SWEET LIFE and XOXOXO's :)

In the mail today came a lovely letter and pamphlet from Westminster Fibers with gorgeous pics of the new SWEET LIFE line of bags from Amy Butler. What do you guys think? I have my eye on Nolita and Sanibel...






And how cute is this "Hugs and Kisses" cable pattern from Lion's Brand?!

The key too *looking* like you're talented...

... is all in the fabric. There's an old saying that you should buy and use the best materials that you can afford, and I'm finding it to be quite true :)

I finished up this throw pillow (16" x 16") for Erin yesterday and am so darned proud of it!

I know... it's just a pillow, but I've never made one before (complete with a back zipper and cording!), and now I can't wait to get started on her chair cushion cover :) She chose the Brown Passion Vine fabric from AB's Nigella for the cover (it's shown as the backdrop for the pillow) and it matches beautifully with the Ivory Woodfern (pillow). And I know that I've said this a million times before.... NIGELLA is a gorgeous line and feels amazing - it's a soft twill (not canvas-y like SUNBLOOM/FOREST) and has an endless number of uses... Just wish there was more time in the day!

Ah! Before I hop off, to answer Jen's question from yesterday's blog posting... my current loves are...

My daughter who loves her quiet time as much as I do...


Fresh cut sunflowers from the local farmer's market
(a suprise from hubby - another love of the day!)

and this little guy, who I can't wait to meet in ~ 8 weeks :)

Cool Mom Picks: MFD featured today!

Good morning everyone! Just a quick note to let you know that I've been featured today on www.coolmompicks.com (a great site to find new and fun products!). Check it out and submit your answer to their trivia question for a chance to win a toddler belt or large wetbag of your choosing.

There is also a link for a 10% discount through the end of August :)

Two hands...

...that's all I need now to count the number of weeks 'til the arrival of Baby V. YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!! This pregnancy has gone by about 100x faster than Sydney's. With her, I felt like I was pregnant forever (and she even came 8 days early!).

I am a bit panicked as there are a million things on the never-ending "to-do" list that I just know won't get done. I'm still 3 pages shy of finishing the scrapbook of our wedding (which was 4+ years go) for my parents. Our album? Whatever... Never will happen. And I think that I'm just going to get some plain albums to put Syd's pictures in to at least keep them in chronological order -maybe I'll get to a more formal album by the time that she has kids. Have to keep a few things on the horizon for when the kids leave the nest :)

The other big milestone we've reached with this pregnancy is the beginning of the every 2 week visit. Not a big deal really, but it's an hour each way to the docs and even with the DVD player that we have in the car with Syd, it tends to not really be a fun time. By the time we get to the docs, she wants to run around like a crazy woman... I was brave and took her alone to my last appointment (hubby was away for work and I didn't want to leave her at a friend's for so long) - the nurse midwife kept asking if I was resting and "giving myself time" each day. Hah! Hmm.. must have been the big bags under my eyes that gave it away...

On the craft front, I haven't done anything new and exciting lately - just catching up on some orders for bib/burp cloth sets., belts, headbands, and bags. Here's some fun toddler totes I made for a friend's daughter, Emily (she came over with the goal of picking one fabric and ended up with 3 - the Heather Ross collection is too cute!). She wanted some simple bags for Emily to play grocery store with - hope she likes them!

This first one was made from a curtain that Ann gave me (she didn't care for it as a curtain, so it's next life is as a bag):


And here's the rest: (the dog one, or "oofs" as Syd would say, is my favorite!)



(don't mind the wrinkles on this one!)


Next week I get to branch out again into unchartered territory - an IPOD cover for Adrienne (to match her bag), a seat cushion cover and pillow (made with some gorgeous Nigella prints - my first time working with this fabric!) for Erin, and another fun skirt for Raina (an adult version of this skirt) - she loved the Amy Butler Curry Kimono and Camel Dot skirt! I am also hoping to sketch a new fall bag design, but that will likely have to wait a bit... not enough hours in the day.

Oh! Almost forgot to mention that my Nigella order did arrive last week - it is absolutely gorgeous! I'll post a bunch for sale once I figure out which ones I'll need for some curtain and bedding projects around here. Give me another week or so :)

Have a fantastic weekend everyone!

PS: I'm booked to be featured on Cool Mom Picks this Sunday! Be sure to check out the story (I'm not quite sure yet what they're going to put...) and answer their question for a chance to win your choice of a toddler belt or large wet bag. There will also be a link for 10% off at my website :)