January 2012 – Domesticating Michelle

It’s a new year and, so far, it’s been a busy one. This time last year I was getting used to the reality that I had a newborn. Now, that bundle of baby is a running, squealing, opening cabinets toddler! I still see some of my little baby in there, but everyday I know she’s becoming more of a little girl.

Towards the end of December I started thinking about what my resolution for 2012 would be. I am not any good at actually sticking to many of them but I thought that I’d give myself some goals for the year. I have been trying to get more comfortable in the kitchen and I have been enjoying trying new crafts so I think I can actually stick to this for the year.

It comes down to confidence. I, sadly, feel like I’ve been losing a lot of it recently. It’s time to start building some back up.

Goal #1: Make or use something new in the kitchen every month.

There are lots of recipes I see that sound good but I chicken out when I see an ingredient or a technique that I don’t know. It’s time to face them head on!

January’s Challenge – My husband and I wanted to do a smash cake photo shoot for Kelsey’s first birthday. I got it in my head that I wanted to make her a healthy cake. So began the research, then the obsessing. A couple of days before our first date (we had to reschedule because of weather) worrying about whether or not it would turn out alright and would it look good in the pictures got the better of me and I decided to order a little cake from Publix.

At the MacDill Enlisted Spouses Meeting, it was suggested that the theme for the potluck before the meeting should be to make something you’ve never made before. I decided this would be a good time to go ahead and try to make a cake from scratch. I even made the icing! The Banana Cake and Banana Glaze came out moist and tasty.

However, I do stand by my decision. It didn’t come out of the pan like I thought it would so I would have been panicking for the photos but it turned out just fine for the meeting. Kelsey even ate a little of it! (She hasn’t really been interested in any cake so far so I’m curious how our photo shoot is going to come out.)

My first cake and it's from scratch!

Goal #2: Try out a new craft or DIY each month.

This one may be a little trickier to keep up with but I’m going to give it my best shot.

Goal #3: Make a pillowcase dress for Kelsey.

Sounds easy, right? However, if you know me at all, you’ve probably just fallen off of your seat. I’ll wait for you to get back up. Why is it so shocking, you ask? Because it involves sewing. So, the first step in getting this one done is going to be to finally really learn how to use the machine my poor mother dragged half way across the country to take to me while we lived in Dayton a few years ago that I have yet to use.

Wish me luck and here’s to a great 2012!

Simple Butterfly Hair Clip

January has turned out to be a pretty busy month with a bunch of late December and January birthdays and other events. We had a birthday party to go to on December 31, participating in the Disney World Kid’s Race on January 7 and heading over the day before, followed by a party on the 8th. A party on January 14 which we’ll miss because we’ll be on the road to Miami for my cousin’s daughter’s little girl’s party on the 15th. Finally, Kelsey’s party on the 21st with family from both sides in town all that weekend and Gasparilla the weekend after.

Most of the birthday kids are girls and they are all getting a hair clip of some kind along with their gift. Some are getting Flower and Ribbon Combo Hair Clips that I already made. Others are getting some of my new favorite, the Loopy Flower Hair Bow by Sweet and Sassy. I made one to directions for Kelsey’s Christmas outfit but I found it was just a bit too “3D” for me so I’ve been playing with just one or two layers and incorporating tulle. I made ones using the middle layer dimensions for all the nieces for Christmas.

1. 8″ length only

2. 8″ length only with Mickey bottle top

3. 8″ length, 2 pieces of square tulle, 6″ length

4. 8″ length only with 4 circles of tulle

One of the outfits I was giving as a present had a few butterflies on the pant leg and I decided that it I needed to try a butterfly hair clip to match it. I started by cutting two 4″ pieces and two 5.5″ pieces for the wings and glued them into teardrop shapes.

Then, I cut a piece of ribbon that would be both the clip cover and the body of the butterfly. I held the ribbon in the clip and ran a bead of glue down the center and glued the wings into position.

I then ran another bead of glue down the middle, folded the ribbon over and glued it down. I then finished by glueing to the back side of the clip. Remember to heat seal the ribbon.