for a 6″ square
āGā hook
special stitchs:
Cluster: Keeping last loop of each dc on the hook, 2 dc in specified st, YO and draw through all 3 loops on hook
Beg Cluster: ch 2, dc in same space
ch 5, join wiht sl st to form a ring
rnd 1: ch 3, 2 dc in ring, { ch 3, 3 dc in ring } three times, ch 3, sl st in top of beg ch-3
rnd 2: sl st in next dc, Beg Cluster, ch 2, Cluster in same st, * skip next dc, {2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc} in next ch-2 space, skip next dc, Cluster, ch 2, Cluster in next dc, repeat from * twice more, skip next dc, {2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc} in next ch-2 space, join with sl st to top of Beg Cluster
rnd 3: sl st in next ch-2 sp, ch 1, sc in same sp, * ch 3, skip next Cluster, dc in next two dc, {2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc} in next ch-3 space, dc in next two dc, ch 3, sc in next ch-2 sp, rep from * twice more, ch 3, skip next Cluster, dc in next two dc, {2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc} in next ch-3 space, dc in next two dc, ch 3, sl st to first sc
rnd 4: sl st in next ch-3 sp, Beg Cluster, ch 2, Cluster in same sp, * sk next 2 dc, dc in next 2 dc, {2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc} in next ch-3 sp, dc in next 2 dc, {Cluster, ch 2, Cluster in next ch-3 sp} twice, rep from * twice more, sk next 2 dc, dc in next 2 dc, {2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc} in next ch-3 sp, dc in next 2 dc, Cluster, ch 2, Cluster in next ch-3 sp, sl st to top of Beg Cluster
rnd 5: ch 3, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp, dc in top of Cluster, dc in next 4 dc, * 5 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next 4 dc, { dc in top of Cluster, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp, dc in top of Cluster} twice, dc in next 4 dc, rep from * twice more, 5 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next 4 dc, dc in top of Cluster, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp, dc in top of Cluster, sl st to top of beg ch-3
finish off and weave in ends
Archives for April 2012
Door Hanging Decor
So I was looking on pinterest one day and found a really cute letter. So of course I wanted to make one for myself. It is pretty simple.
Step 1: Draw or sketch whichever letter you want onto cardboard. (or print off the letter and tape it onto the cardboard.) I just used an old cardboard box I had lying around and made the W look how I wanted it.
Step 2: Cut it out.
Step 3: Pick out the color yarn that you like.
Step 4: Start Wrapping. I really like the look of the vertical lines, so I started wrapping horizontally. This is largley going to depend on the letter that you choose as to which looks better. Just take a little hot glue and glue the end of the yarn to the cardboard at one end then wrap evenly around until you have covered the whole letter.
Step 5: Wrap the other way. I could still see cardboard so i went back and wrapped again the other way. Vertically this time. I did the two edges first and then finished up with the middle. I used the hot glue in places that had too sharp of an angle to stay wrapped very well.
Step 6: Decorate it. I picked some ribbon that I liked and hot glued that to the back and tied the bow together on top. Also the Bow on the W I glued on as well.
Step 7: Hang and enjoy!
29 Weeks Pregnant
At 29 Weeks my sister took some way cute maternity photos!
http://www.muchmorephotography.blogspot.com/
She did a really good job. Thanks so much!
 |
| The Basketball is for my hubby. He loves basketball and that’s about what my belly looks like now too! š |
Brocoli Cheese Soup
Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
- 1 (16-ounce) package broccoli florets
- 2 1/2 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 8 ounces light processed cheese, cubed (such as Velveeta Light)
Preparation
- Heat a large nonstick saucepan coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; saute 3 minutes or until tender. Add broth and broccoli. Bring broccoli mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium; cook 10 minutes.
- Combine milk and flour, stirring with a whisk until well blended. Add milk mixture to broccoli mixture. Cook 5 minutes or until slightly thick, stirring constantly. Stir in pepper. Remove from heat; add cheese, stirring until cheese melts.
- Place one-third of the soup in a blender or food processor, and process until smooth. Return pureed soup mixture to pan.
Brussel Sprouts and rice casserole
Ingredients
- 1 (10-ounce) package frozen Brussels sprouts
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon stick margarine
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups 1% low-fat milk $
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon white pepper
- Cooking spray
- 1 cup cooked long-grain rice
- 1 ounce thinly sliced prosciutto or ham, cut into thin strips
- 1/4 cup fresh breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons grated fresh Parmesan cheese
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 375Ā°.
- Combine the Brussels sprouts and water in a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes. Uncover sprouts, and cook 1 minute. Drain.
- Melt margarine in a small saucepan over low heat; add flour, stirring with a whisk. Gradually add milk to saucepan. Bring to a boil; cook 3 minutes over medium heat or until thick and bubbly, stirring constantly. Stir in salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Coat a 9-inch quiche or round baking dish with cooking spray. Pat rice into bottom of dish; arrange Brussels sprouts, stem sides down, on top of rice. Sprinkle Brussels sprouts with prosciutto; pour sauce over prosciutto. Combine breadcrumbs and cheese; sprinkle over sauce. Bake at 375Ā° for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
Week 1: Healthy Meals
Here goes the first week of trying to eat healthy. I am only going to be planning out dinners as there is only two people I am feeding and we usually eat leftovers from dinner for lunch the next day…and breakfast…lets just be honest…I really don’t have time in the mornings. So first thing first…starting to make dinners.
Monday: Brussel Sprouts and Rice Casserole
Tuesday: Stir Fry
Wednesday: Kabobs
Thursday: Steak and asparagus
Friday: Taco’s
Saturday: at home Mongolian BBQ
Sunday: Broccoli Cheese soup
Fat, Sick, And nearly Dead
So I have been struggling during this pregnancy to get my veggies into my daily diet. I work at a weight loss clinic where our clients eat 4 cups of vegetables a day. That is a lot. (especially when it doesn’t include potatoes and carrots). My parents have started Juicing after watching a documentary entitled “Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead”. http://www.fatsickandnearlydead.com/ After they and my midwife told me to watch it I finally did. I needed to find some way to get all those healthy green veggies in. It is a super interesting film. My parents have been feeling so much more vibrant and healthier from all the fresh fruits and veggies. So anyway this is a great film to watch. It helped me realize that most American’s really don’t get the veggies they need.
I do however feel like it is a complete waste of vegetables to juice them. You loose a lot of the bulk of the veggies. (ok and the real truth) I can’t stand to drink them. I think they are disgusting. So although I love the idea and the ease of it I really needed to come up with something else. I decided to just make sure I ate tons of veggies. So of course if I want to eat them whole it is going to take a lot for me to learn how to incorporate vegetables into my diet.
How to shop for veggie’s
How to cook them so they taste good
How to cook meals that include veggies but don’t take forever. (let’s face it…it’s easy to throw spaghetti on the stove, it’s easy to do whatever is already a habit.)
So there is the goal…. Learn to cook healthy meals that taste good but don’t take forever to make. Can I do it? I hope so. š
Fat Sick and nearly dead
So I have been struggling during this pregnancy to get my veggies into my daily diet. I work at a weight loss clinic where our clients eat 4 cups of vegetables a day. That is a lot. (especially when it doesn’t include potatoes and carrots). My parents have started Juicing after watching a documentary entitled “Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead”. http://www.fatsickandnearlydead.com/ After they and my midwife told me to watch it I finally did. I needed to find some way to get all those healthy green veggies in. It is a super interesting film. My parents have been feeling so much more vibrant and healthier from all the fresh fruits and veggies. So anyway this is a great film to watch. It helped me realize that most American’s really don’t get the veggies they need.
I do however feel like it is a complete waste of vegetables to juice them. You loose a lot of the bulk of the veggies. (ok and the real truth) I can’t stand to drink them. I think they are disgusting. So although I love the idea and the ease of it I really needed to come up with something else. I decided to just make sure I ate tons of veggies. So of course if I want to eat them whole it is going to take a lot for me to learn how to incorporate vegetables into my diet.
How to shop for veggie’s
How to cook them so they taste good
How to cook meals that include veggies but don’t take forever. (let’s face it…it’s easy to throw spaghetti on the stove, it’s easy to do whatever is already a habit.)
So there is the goal…. Learn to cook healthy meals that taste good but don’t take forever to make. Can I do it? I hope so. š
Photo Booth
Do it at Home Box
I am starting to get slightly crafty. š While preparing to have my first baby I wanted some cute boxes to put the clothes in. I already had a nice bookshelf and knew a box would be perfect to spice it up. I am planning on using it for clothes but these boxes would be perfect for many different types of decorative storage. I started by gathering up some cardboard boxes from my work. Luckily I was able to find the perfect size for the job. I got extra just in case I would need them. I then started checking out the local fabric stores for the covering. I wanted a pretty thick fabric to give the cardboard box some protection. I found this fabric on sale at Walmart. It was thick and had kind of a plastic feel to it. Jean fabric would work, or burlap. Just something with a little texture to it. I chose this because I also liked the color:
Next I got my box ready. I measured out how much fabric I would need to fit around the box. (On the first box I just folded the flaps down but I cut them off on the second one. That seemed to work much better and gave it a smoother look and more room on the inside.)
Then I wrapped the box like present. I hot glued the side and started going around. Gluing as I went, paying specific attention to the corners. Then I finished it off by folding over the fabric and sealing that with the glue as well.
The bottom I folded in like a present and glued it down pulling tightly to keep the fabric from puckering. The first one was difficult. I was more successful with the next one.
Then I folded the other side down into the box and glued it to the sides.
I repeated this five times to fill the bookshelf and make cute shelves. It is pretty simple but the boxes definitely got better as I went.
Then to add the decoration. I just took a regular ribbon and wrapped that around the box. Then I attached a flower. These flowers are pretty easy to make. You can get the fabric at Michael’s and then you just glue the colors you want together. I took whatever button was lying around an made that the center.
The best part is that if I change my mind on color it would be really easy to change out the flower or ribbon.
And Wala There you have it. A easy homemade box. š
