Gray Shorts

These are some shorts that The Fashionista made using thrifted gray herringbone tweedy cotton fabric and white piping. She modified the pattern for the pleats. I believe this is the built by Wendy pants pattern.

I just love the white piping! What a fun little detail.

Food at the Fair

DQ Bakerette scored big at the fair with her brownie recipe! First place in the butter contest! We are so proud of her, this is her first time entering food in the fair. Less than six months ago she was afraid to take hot pans out of the oven by herself, and look at her now!

The itty bitty picture below was just so blurry, but it was one of my favorites. Left to right: Grandma, DQ Bakerette, and The Fashionista. Her other grandparents were there to celebrate with us, too. We all had a hard time figuring out what that glass thing was! Of course, it's just a modern platter for her creations, but in a pinch it can be used as a magnifying glass or a light box.
The prize? 30 pounds of butter! We do all of our baking with butter; that's why I've encouraged my girls to enter the butter contest the past two years. The Fashionista got second place and scored 20 pounds of butter last year.

Great job DQ!

New Header, Again

Please forgive me while I play around with my photos and make fun graphics. I'll probably change the header a few times. That one up there now is a five minute header. I'm learning all sorts of cool techniques for Photoshop Elements, and today I learned how to blend images, such as the blue texture on the font, and the different colors on the architectural designs. And seriously, it took me all of five minutes.

Open a door like that and you're Alice in a Wonderland of graphic potential.

Clipping Paths Tutorial (I'm thrilled to learn this because I didn't think you could do this with Elements)
Free blue texture from Bittbox
Background for architectural brush found here
Botched Ornaments brush found here
Sidewalk font

Happy Birthday Mr. Big

He's officially an adult now.Working heavy summer hours, helping with Vacation Bible School all this week, his friends over for a party - it was hard to snatch a minute to do the whole candles-and-gifts thing. This was his lunch hour.


It's nice to get some photos of real smiles, and not some goofy look or potential gang symbols! (not that he is associated with that type of crowd, but when he does anything with his hands, I cringe and think, "some gang somewhere uses that as their secret symbol!")


Oreo Cream Pie, his favorite:
I'm quite sure this is the recipe, but DQ Bakerette and Grandma made it, not me.

Giving his grandma Eskimo Kisses is a very cool thing indeed. I think he got his grandma's nose!

It was a nice 40 minutes!

Yes, happy birthday Mr. Big. This is one you'll remember all your life.

Dude, I've got an 18 year old son!

Breakfast of Champions

Or at least 18 year olds. Mr. Big is officially an adult, and this was his breakfast choice.
Fresh Berry Pluot Cobbler from this wonderful website, with fresh whipped cream.
Berries (blackberries, red raspberries, and white raspberries) and pluots picked this morning.

It was good, and it better have been. I practically had to climb inside an angry blackberry bush to get those plump last-of-the-season berries.

Chocolate Cherry Tomatoes

Because they're just so purdy:
These are Chocolate Cherry Tomatoes, a little darker than your typical cherries, and with an intense, sweet tomato flavor. These are our new favorites.

DQ Bakerette could eat this whole bowl by herself. I think she was born eating veggies.They are wonderful sliced in half and dressed with olive oil, sea salt, and freshly ground pepper.

Wallet Numero Uno

The Fashionista made a wallet. She's holding it closed because it lacks a fastener:Notice all the little pockets:
And the clear vinyl pocket:
Look at the cute little coin pocket:
Ooh, there's even a space for the little bank book:
And a long pocket:
Nope, no pattern.

Again.