Wednesday, February 29, 2012

The Peggy Skirt

So we have taken way too long to write this post. I feel embarrassed about it, but late is better than never right?!

Our friend Ros from Sew Delicious let us test out the pattern for The Peggy Skirt. Let me tell you, this is a fabulous pattern, lots of very clear pictures and instructions are easy to follow.

Here is the size 2T we made for Julie. I don't have any pictures of her in it yet since it hasn't been skirt weather for a while.


The night we got together to make this skirt we also made skirts for ourselves. We don't have pictures of them right now because we look terrible in them. We made them way too big and we haven't gotten around to altering them yet. Anyway we loved the pattern and the finished product of Julie's skirt.

If you haven't yet go check out Sew Delicious and her lovely shop.

Pinned It, Made It Favorites: Take 7!

Hello everyone! Here are two of our favorite pins from last week's party! (Click on the image to go to the post.)

DIY fabric tape! We love this idea!!

Super cute Junebug inspired dress!
Thanks for linking up! We hope to see more this week! Feel free to grab a featured button and come back this week and share some more cool stuff with us! :)

 
 
&


Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Project Recycled

I had to keep it secret what I was making for Project Recycled while I was in the competition so now I'd like to show you which projects were mine.


Week 1:  E-reader case from men's pants


Week 2:  Purse made out of a buttoned shirt and tie


Week 3: A Valentine's Day dress from a t-shirt


Week 4: Houndstooth skirt and Lacy leggings from a blazer and t-shirt. This one didn't make it into the competition but I wrote a full post about it here.


There are still 2 very talented ladies in competition this week, you can vote here. Also Robin posted an exit interview with me on her blog last week and you can read that here.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Made It Monday: Mexico Edition

As Brandi said last week, I was in Mexico for a week helping build houses with Esperanza International. We worked on two sites and got the roof poured on one house before we left! Yay! I wish I could have stayed forever, though. The work we do there is so fulfilling and wonderful.

Before we went to Mexico (we build in Tijuana/Rosarito area but we stay in a small town called La Gloria), we stopped by the San Diego Zoo. My brother and two of my nephews drove down from Orange County to spend the day with me. It also happened to be my birthday! It was truly a happy birthday. :)

After the zoo, we crossed the border to Mexico and didn't look back.

On Sunday, we always go to La Bufadora and spend the day there. Melissa and I like to go get a drink by the beach so this is part of our tradition.

Here's the house when we started building.

Ariel and I were working on making the beams longer so that we could use them to hold the plywood up for the roof pour (the whole house is made of cement but we use wood to make the mold, so to say).

Dirty boots. We hauled cemento three of the 5 days we were there so we were filthy, to say the least.

Here is the house finished. We leave the rebar hanging out so that they can add onto the structure if they want, so from here Rosa can build up or out, either way.

Here is our group with Rosa. She was so sweet. Part of their responsibility is to feed us while we're working so every day she had to prepare a meal for all of us. She's a single mom of 5 kids, 2 of which are still home and in school. It took her 2 years to get her house because part of the program requirements are that they save money but because she is a single mom, it was difficult for her to do so. She persevered and now has a home to show for it.

I had such a fulfilling and wonderful week. I'm sure you'll be hearing more about it from me and if you want to read my updates from while I was down there on my blog, you can head on over and do that. I can't wait to go back next year. I'm hoping to maybe speak to some local churches and help them start a group of their own. Unfortunately, everyone believes the hype that Mexico is a terrible place to be, when it isn't. If you don't go looking for trouble, there's none really to be found. We walk around at night just fine, we are left alone, and if anything, we are safer where we are because the people in our community know who we are and why we're there.

I really hope that more people take the opportunity to go work with Esperanza. They're a wonderful organization and the time we spend there is absolutely wonderful and inspiring.


Friday, February 24, 2012

Foodie Friday: Mexican Beef Bake!

Hey there everyone!! Hello from Mexico!!

One of our favorite dishes around here is Mexican Beef Bake. It's a recipe my mom pulled from the side of a Bisquick box and we've loved it ever since. It's super easy to make and so delicious!


Ingredients:
2c Bisquick
2/3c milk
1lb ground meat (any kind, really - I use turkey) 
2 eggs
1-2 tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2c chopped onion
1c shredded cheese
2 chopped tomatoes

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.
Brown the meat and onions.
Mix Bisquick, milk, and eggs in a greased rectangular baking dish with a fork (it will be lumpy).
Stir in the meat/onion mixture.
Bake 25-30 min (until top springs back).
Put cheese and tomatoes on top and put back in the oven until melty.

Serve with sour cream, salsa, taco sauce, etc.



The picture above has the seasonings I use since I don't make my taco meat using those measurements. You could also use a packet of taco seasoning to make it even easier.

Now we would love it if you would share what you have been cooking lately. Here is our button, please link up!

Pinned It, Made It: Number 7!

Welcome to Pinned it, Made it! #3! We're so excited you could join us today. Grab our button and spread the word!!
Also make sure you check out our Foodie Friday linky party!! Two places to link up your things!



The Pinned It, Made It! Party is hosted by us here on Crafty Girl Squared and our blog friend Jennifer at Finding My Way in Texas! On Tuesdays she will be posting her top picks from the link ups and we will also be posting ours on Tuesdays! So that is a double to chance to get featured. :)
The "RULES":
Please, please, please follow both Finding My Way in Texas AND Crafty Girl Squared
Give credit where credit is due! Please include the ORIGINAL link from your inspiration, in your post. Life is more fun when we all play nice. :)
Add our button to your post so that others can discover this party and join in on all the fun!
Feel free to link up any project, be it food, craft or DIY, that you’ve been inspired to create because of something you pinned!
Can't wait to see what you create!!

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Tuesday Tutorial - Mexico Market Bag


Here is a free pattern from Meighen.

The Mexico Market Bag



Inspired by the fishing nets around here and the street merchants everywhere.


K hook and baby/light weight yarn (number 2)



Row 1: 10hdc in magic circle
 Row 2: 2hdc in each hdc around (20)
 Row 3: 1hdc in first and 2hdc in next repeat around (30)
 Row 4: 1hdc in first 2 and 2hdc in third repeat around (40)
 Row 5: 1hdc in first 3 and 2hdc in fourth repeat around (50)
 Row 6: 1hdc in first 4 and 2hdc in fifth repeat around (60)
 Row 7: ch4 (counts as first tr throughout), tr in second sp from ch, *ch1, skip sp, tr in next sp *repeat around and join in 3rd ch of ch4 (30)



 Row 8-16: ch4, *tr in next ch sp, ch1 *repeat around and join in 3rd ch of ch4 (30)
 Row 17: ch1(does not count as hdc), 2hdc in ea ch1 sp (60)
 Row 18-19: ch1, hdc around (60)
 Row 20: ch1, hdc in same and next 9 sts, ch1, turn (10)
 Continue with 10 hdc turning each row until you have enough length for the strap. Count 20 sts from the beginning of the strap around the top of the bag and connect. You can use a sc, sl st, or a yarn needle. Whatever you prefer.




Monday, February 20, 2012

Made it Monday


Hello I am just stopping in to show you what I have been up to lately. First this circle skirt I made for Julie. You can read more about this here.


This hat is for a giveaway on Facebook we will be doing very soon so if you haven't liked us on facebook then go ahead and do that so you have the chance to win some stuff. here

Another slouchy beanie, I am working on making more patterns and this is one of them.


If you didn't already know, Meighen is spending the week in Mexico so look forward to seeing those pictures when she gets back. Have a great week everyone!


Friday, February 17, 2012

Pinned It, Made It: Number 6!

Welcome to Pinned it, Made it! #3! We're so excited you could join us today. Grab our button and spread the word!!
Also make sure you check out our Foodie Friday linky party!! Two places to link up your things!



The Pinned It, Made It! Party is hosted by us here on Crafty Girl Squared and our blog friend Jennifer at Finding My Way in Texas! On Tuesdays she will be posting her top picks from the link ups and we will also be posting ours on Tuesdays! So that is a double to chance to get featured. :)
The "RULES":
Please, please, please follow both Finding My Way in Texas AND Crafty Girl Squared
Give credit where credit is due! Please include the ORIGINAL link from your inspiration, in your post. Life is more fun when we all play nice. :)
Add our button to your post so that others can discover this party and join in on all the fun!
Feel free to link up any project, be it food, craft or DIY, that you’ve been inspired to create because of something you pinned!
Can't wait to see what you create!!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Crochet Pattern- Hooded Cowl





For this pattern you need:

          * Size P hook
          * 2 coordinating skeins of yarn, I used Red heart Soft White Fleck and Red Heart Primary. They need to be medium weight.

Use both yarns at the same time.

Ch 60.
Join in first chain.
row 1. ch2(counts as first dc), dc around, join.
row 2-4. ch2 (counts as first dc) dc around, join.
row 5. ch2, *decrease in the next 2 sts, dc* repeat * 8 times, dc across the rest, join.
row 6-12. ch2(counts as first dc), dc across, join.
row 13. *decrease in the next 2 sts, dc* repeat* across, join
row 14-18. ch2 dc across, join.
fasten off, weave in ends

email or comment with any questions!





You can wear it two ways




The small end is the top, the large end is the bottom.


Hope you all enjoy this pattern!


Monday, February 13, 2012

Made it Monday: Baby shower reveal


I've been on a big reading kick lately so my creativity and crafting has decreased significantly. Sorry that I don't have anything better to share with you than pictures from my high school best friend's baby shower!! :) I gave her all the goodies I made for her and baby and she was over the moon about them all. I'm so glad I got to share in that day, preparing for his entrance in this world, and that I get to be a big part of his life. JJ is gonna have some competition and a new play-date!! 
Here's her adorable cake. I'd love to say that I made it, but alas, I did not. It was banana with pineapple filling and SO SO GOOD.

Wearing the carrier and checking out the car seat canopy.

The giraffe has a special meaning for her. There's this story that Grandma Brown used to tell and...well...we love giraffes. This hat and cocoon are what he'll wear in his infant pictures. :)

Next stage hat: penguin.

No more words need said for this one. ;)

I wanted to be sure I got the measurements correct since I used JJ's old car seat for it. Perfect!! They're so happy with the outcome. When I get back from Mexico we're going shopping for boppy pillow cover fabric. :)

There you have my pretty cute, but not new project post. I hope you're all creating up a storm in my absence! I'll be heading to Mexico on Friday so look to my personal blog for updates on my trip!


Saturday, February 11, 2012

Foodie Friday: Apple Pie Cupcakes

Sorry for this late post. I've been completely engrossed in The Hunger Games books lately and have terribly abandoned my life! I'm so sorry!

Anyway, onto this week's Foodie Friday. :)

I was asked to 'bring a pie' to a super bowl party last week so, as I'm sure you know, I was unable to just 'bring a pie' and had to make apple pie cupcakes. I found this recipe and pinned it deciding this was THE recipe to use. From scratch. Yum yum.


My, was I ever right!! These are the best cupcakes EVER! So good! So simple to make and SO DELICIOUS.

I also (because you can't just take one kind of cupcake to a party) made some devils food cupcakes with peppermint butter cream icing. I topped them off with some crushed peppermints. :)

Now we would love it if you would share what you have been cooking lately. Here is our button, please link up!