T-Shirt Shrug

Tonight is the annual 8th grade banquet. For those of you not in the know, this is basically like an 8th grade prom. The girls get all dressed up...most in formals dresses and the guys actually wear pants that are not falling off their butts! lol :) you know what I am talking about! Needless to say it is quite the shin-dig! Anyway, I was sort of at a loss for what to wear. I have the cutest patio dress but it is spaghetti straps and I am not comfortable showing off my shoulders to all those kiddos. I remembered seeing the directions for a cute/easy shrug here and decided to give it a shot. I was done in about 20 minutes, add a few yoyos and vintage buttons and voila! I was done!!! What do you think? Cheap and easy! My kind of project :-)

Sweet Baby Girl

Broccoli Salad

Will and I love to eat lots of veggie salads during the warm spring and summer months. Most of our recipes come from our grandparents and our parents. Recently Will's mom introduced us to a Broccoli Salad from Paula Deen. It is fast and easy and super tasty!

Broccoli Salad

Ingredients

• 1 head broccoli
• 6 to 8 slices cooked bacon, crumbled (we used turkey bacon...can't tell the difference in the salad!)
  
• 1/2 cup chopped red onion (we just used white)
  
• 1/2 cup raisins, optional (haven't tried the raisins yet)
  
• 8 ounces sharp Cheddar, cut into very small chunks (we use shredded cheese)
  
• 1 cup mayonnaise (low-fat, real mayo...not miracle whip)
  
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Trim off the large leaves from the broccoli stem. Remove the tough stalk at the end and wash broccoli head thoroughly. Cut the head into flowerets and the stem into bite-size pieces. Place in a large bowl. Add the crumbled bacon, onion, raisins if using, and cheese. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, mayo , sugar, and tomatoes, stirring well (it sounds crazy but after you blend the mayo, sugar, and vinegar together add the tomatoes...it helps dissolve the sugar!). Add to broccoli mixture and toss gently.

This is something that is super fast so it is great for weeknight meals...enjoy!

Spring Pictures

Madeline got some new garden tools!

Will and the Lady Bugs

Helping with the release of the Lady Bugs

My wonderful husband~doesn't he look so happy??

The Lady Bugs meet the tomato plants!

Who doesn't enjoy Lady Bugs?

My girl and her momma...I love this girl :-)

Pretty fabric...what will they be?

Hmmmm.....looking a little thin...

Look! They are roosting!

Pretty colors...you can get the pattern here!

Old jeans make cute new skirt for Little Bit...now I just need to make a top!

Playing a little dress up...all little girls should do this regularly!


Have a great week :-)
To all my teacher friends - We can do this, we only have a few more weeks (some less than others!) and we will once again find our serenity!!!!

Long time no post!

Wow! It has been a long time since I last posted. In the last 4 weeks we have finished TAKS and entered the end-of-the-year rush toward summer! I have done some sewing but we are just ready for a break:) I'll try to get over this blog-block!

-amanda :)