HANDMADE ONESIES

CRAFT IDEAS - Week Two - Handmade Onesies

Ok, some of you may have noticed that the postings for Craft Ideas and the postings for Gift Ideas have a lot of overlap. This is to be expected as most crafts can be given as gifts. However, most of my craft ideas will involve sewing as it is one of my favorite means of creating. For some of you this might seem like a daunting task but I believe that anyone can use a needle and thread. And the beauty of this week’s idea is the stitches don’t need to be uniform or even neat as the “inconsistent” stitch will actually add more to the look. These “handmade” onesies take a simple white t-shirt and turn it into something unique and fun. Here is a picture of my cousin’s baby modeling the train onesie.

 

To make this cute tee yourself you will need to gather the following supplies.

• A pack of onesies in the appropriate size. I like to use the Gerber packs from Target. They run about $9.99 for 4 or 5 depending on the size and are super soft and durable. They come in a variety of colors as well as basic white. Part of the creativity is in choosing the onesie color.

• A nice sized needle and thread in a corresponding or contrasting color. If you are using a white background piece like the one in this picture it is fun to pic a primary colored thread for contrast and design.

• Fabric remnants from discarded sheets, comforters, curtains and also from fabric stores. Right now I have a stock of Farm Animals, Trains, Dinosaurs and Flowers.

Depending on who the onesie is for, pick a pattern, trim the pieces to tidy shapes and lay out the design you want. I like to use straight pins and attach the fabric pieces to the onesie to ensure everything ends up where I want it.

Using small stitches, neatly sew the pieces to the onesie about an 1/8 of an inch from the edge of the remnant. This allows for a cool fraying of the cotton to occur after many washings. Be sure to sew all the way around the fabric remnant and tie off the thread with a double knot when finishing.

The project will take you about an hour and half to two hours from start to finish and can be quite fun.

Let us know what you think of this idea and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more tools and ideas for crafting.

http://www.facebook.com/SignatureServicesLA

@castuttle

 

And visit our Etsy site to purchase the aprons from last month as well as these onesies.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/125443157/ribbon-and-rosette-apron

https://www.etsy.com/listing/125442731/criss-cross-ribbon-apron

MEAL PLAN WEEK TWO – TURKEY BURRITOS

One of my favorite, fast and easy meals is the Turkey Burrito. It is full of protein, veggies and fiber and if you make extra it is great as leftovers.

To start you will need the following ingredients:

• 1 package ground turkey
• 1 package taco seasoning
• 1 can of black or pinto beans
• 1 package of Spanish Rice .I like to use Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice when I’m in a hurry. You can heat it in the microwave in just 90 seconds. 
• Bell peppers – I prefer to use red bell peppers for the flavor and splash of color.
• 1 white onion
• Tortillas - I prefer whole wheat tortillas but get whatever works best for you
• Tomatoes
• Cheese - I like to use crumbled goat cheese. The heat from the meat will melt it just enough to make it the consistency of sour cream so you get the creaminess without only half the fat and calories
• Lettuce

Chop the onions and bell peppers into bite size squares and sauté with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Be careful not to over season as most of your flavor will come from the taco seasoning packet to be added later.  

Once the onions and bell pepper have softened up a bit (be careful not to overcook them or you just get veggie mush) add the ground turkey. While this is cooking prepare the rice as directed.

About 2 minutes before the turkey is fully cooked add the can of beans, sauce and all, and the packet of taco seasoning. You don’t need to add water as the juice from the beans and turkey take care of that. Mix thoroughly and simmer for about 5 minutes. Chop your tomatoes and lettuce and the cheese if needed.

Now you are ready to assemble the ultimate healthy burrito. A scoop of the turkey and bean mix, a scoop of rice, some lettuce, tomatoes and cheese and you have healthy fabulousness.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter this week for great ideas for your kitchen.

http://www.facebook.com/SignatureServicesLA

@castuttle

GIFT IDEAS - WEEK TWO - PERSONALIZED PLANNER

 As the search for the perfect gift continues I ran across a website that helps you to create your own book.  It was a great find. You can make anything from a photo book to a bound novel you want to publish and sell. For a reasonable price they provide you with the software to create the book, then print and ship it to you.  They will even help you sell your books if you like. The layouts are fun and easy to use. The instructions are humorous and useful and the end product is something you can be proud of. Think snapfish for writers.  

My friend’s birthday was coming up and I thought it would be fun to create a personalized planner for her. It seemed like a fun, personal way to share some of the great pictures I had taken of her and her baby over the previous year. I highly recommend that you give this a try this year.

First, log in to www.blurb.com and download the BookSmart program. When you open BookSmart it will walk you thru the steps to create and order your very own book.  It’s as easy as pie (Which by the way is a saying that has never made sense to me. If you have ever made pie you know there is nothing easy about it. Shrug.).

I chose to make a Planner (with a Notes page instead of the Month at a Glance) as it appealed to my sense of order and my creative side. The pocket size seemed the most practical as she could carry it in her purse (again my sense of order) so I chose that.  I then downloaded 13 images - one for each month and a cover. I chose images I had taken from each month that year, such as a picture of her son at Christmas and one of him in his Halloween costume. I thought it would be a sweet reminder of what he had looked like at that time the previous year. Then I clicked and drug the images to the appropriate pages. The program gives the option to edit the layout of the image, choosing one that has text space or just an image. I chose the image layout that included text and put headers for all the pictures. You could choose to add fun quotes or sayings. For example, for November there is this little tidbit from someecards “I’m so happy the family is coming over so we can all talk over each other at extremely loud volumes” that definitely reminds me of the holidays.

 

The book took me less than an hour to create and was very reasonably priced. With shipping and tax it was just over $30. For less than I would normally spend on a present for one of my closest friends, I created a personalized, fun heartfelt gift that will remind her all year of the happiest memories from the previous year. The gift was such a success that I plan to do this soon for another friend.

I hope you are all enjoying the ideas from this blog. I know I am having fun writing them. Be sure to follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/SignatureServicesLA and Twitter @castuttle for daily tips and ideas to make life easier and more fun.

ORGANIZATION WEEK TWO – YOUR CLOSET

There is nothing quite as beautiful as a well-organized closet. Seeing all of your clothes neatly lined up on beautiful hangers, your shoes marching in a row and your bags and scarves perfectly stored is the ultimate organizational high. This state of nirvana is not easily attained but once you reach it you will never leave. 

Being a “neat nick” at heart I have tried many ways to hang, fold and stash my clothes. My closet space has ranged from the size of a small door to the walk in I have now. I have bought rack systems, hanging pieces and shoe organizers by the dozens. But still it seemed as if the clutter in my closet was multiplying. I swear it was channeling those Tribbles on Star Trek that reproduce every time you turn your back. I would open my closet door and my wardrobe would attack me. I kept saying, someday I will have a big enough space to organize everything. But that “someday” never seemed to come.

Then the most amazing thing happened. A friend of mine bought me a starter set of wooden hangers for my birthday. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship with my closet (yes, I quoted Casablanca on purpose). I wanted my closet to be worthy of those wooden beauties so I set out to create an organized space that adapted to any size closet and didn’t involve thousands of dollars. The result is what you see here, an inviting, accessible system that can adapt to any space or shopping spree.   

 

 

 

Let me walk you through the basics:

1. Make your closet space inviting by painting it a pretty, soothing color that will showcase your wardrobe. I happen to love blue.
2. Purchase good, matching hangers. Why matching you ask? It adds to the overall feeling of uniformity and style and helps your eye to focus on your clothes and not the jumble of different hangers.
3. Invest in bins – clear, wire, with lids, without it really doesn’t matter. The key is to find the right sizes for your needs and to be able to see what they hold without opening them. My bins hold my t-shirts, workout pants, scarves and undergarments. Everything else I hang up as I like to be able to access my daily wear clothes without any fuss.
4. Make space for your shoes. This may involve allocating existing shelves like I have done or purchasing good shoe racks. It is important to store your shoes neatly to help them retain their shape and last longer. Some people like to go the extra step and put them all in bins with pictures on the front to identify what is in them. This is a good option if you don’t mind un-stacking and opening bins every time you get dressed. I suffer from “shoe indecision” so I would undoubtedly end up with 20 bins and 20 pairs of shoes strewn over the closet floor every time I get ready. Knowing this about myself, I keep it simple.
5. Finally, take the time to put up pictures, find interesting knick knacks and line drawers with scented paper to pretty up your closet. This makes it more than just a space to house your clothes. It makes it somewhere you enjoy hanging out while you play dress up.  

Once you have all this in place you can get down to the business of hanging, folding and stacking until your closet is just the way you want it.

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter this week as I post ideas for great bins and hangers to set you on the road to the perfect closet.

http://www.facebook.com/SignatureServicesLA

@castuttle

A few years ago I ran across a great craft idea in a Real Simple magazine. They had taken a simple dish towel and by adding buttons and ribbon, turned it into an apron. I decided to try this idea and make them for my friends and family. That year I made 25 simple and stylish aprons.

Over the years this craft has changed and grown into the sassy apron pictured here. If you are at all crafty you can create your own Signature Apron. For those of you who don’t have the necessary tools (or know how) here is the link to buy one on Etsy. www.esty.com/shop/SignatureAprons

First step – Gather your tools

One sturdy dish towel. I like to use white cotton waffle weave towels as they last forever and the weave gives you a nice pattern to play with.

Four to Six feet of ribbon. You can use whatever ribbon catches your eye. There are double faced satins, gross grains and single face satins to name a few. I have upgraded to double faced satin.

Thread. You can choose to match or coordinate with the ribbon and towel.

Embellishments. There are so many to choose from – buttons, roses, decals, appliques and more.

Sewing implements. If you want to make a simple apron with two ribbons you will only need a needle. If you have a sewing machine and know how to use it you can upgrade to designs and full ribbon coverage across the front.

 

Second step – Find a quiet, safe place to sew. If you have kids you know this is the most important step.

Third step – Determine your design

It is important to always lay out what you want to do and pin the pieces in place, even if you are going the simple route. When I first started sewing I made a blouse and skirt combo. The blouse took me two days, endless muttered swear words (well I was 14 so they were euphemisms) and several spools of thread. Why? Because I refused to pin the sleeves on prior to sewing and managed to attach them inside out REPEATEDLY! No joke – one sleeve took me 6 tries before I got it right.

If you are going the simple route you only need to measure the amount of ribbon you will need to attach two inches in from the top corners of the towel and wrap around your body with enough ribbon to tie. Remember – MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE or you might end making several trips to the fabric store. Add a few cute buttons as fun anchors for the ribbon.

For the more intensive option you need to create your design and lay it out accordingly. I’ll leave that up to you or this posting will be too friggin LONG.

Fourth step – Get to sewing.

If you are going simple you only need to thread your needle and sew the buttons in place. Remember to double your thread and make several passes thru each button hole to ensure the thread holds thru multiple uses. Now… I have been sewing for a long time and still have a hell of a time with buttons. I inevitably get the thread tangled, or don’t pull it all the way thru and leave a loop on one end. So again it pays to go slow and be methodical.

For the sewing machine option, I’m going to assume you know what to do. But if not, give me a holler and I’ll send more detailed directions.

These beautiful aprons will take you anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple hours depending on how crafty you want to be. The end result is a fun, sassy apron that your friends will want for themselves.

Cooking Ideas

Sweet Italian Pork Sausage with Veggies

If you are one of those people that needs precise directions for cooking, you have come to the wrong blog. I LOVE to cook. To me it is all about creativity. I may make the same recipe over and over but every time it is a little different. My “chef” crush is Nigella Lawson. That woman is sexy and brilliant and to her cooking is a hands on love affair.  Watching her inspires me to create beautiful, fun food that I can share with my family and friends. I am going to try to share some of those creations with you. Since my measurements are not very precise, don’t worry if your “creation” turns out differently from mine.

You want something fast, easy and still interesting to eat? Try this favorite of mine. First you need a package of Sweet Italian Pork Sausage. My favorite is from Trader Joe’s. While you are there pick up a jar of their Tomato Basil Spaghetti Sauce, an onion and a package of Bell Peppers (red, yellow and orange). Now you may prefer Green Bell Peppers and that’s cool. Feel free to substitute the veggies you prefer. I’m sure this would also be good with broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, spinach or any other Veg that you think will cook to a semi tender texture. You really don’t want anything that will get too soft or the dish will be entirely too one note (I learned that one watching CHOPPED). Also be sure you have garlic, olive oil and salt at home. I think it is always a good idea to have a jar of crushed garlic in the fridge and sea salt on the counter as these are staples in most of my favorite dishes. Oh, don’t forget the fresh basil.. also a staple in my kitchen.

Now that you have everything you need it is time to assemble the ultimate dish. In a deep fry pan heat about 2 tablespoons of olive oil with a teaspoon or so of crushed garlic and a sprinkling of sea salt. Lay in the sausage gently. Trust me, you don’t ever want to toss anything into hot oil. It can only end badly. I have the burns to prove it. Your goal at this point is to brown the sausage nicely on all sides for a little color. I would suggest put a grease spatter screen over your pan while it is cooking.  Now you need to cut the vegetables - half the onion and half of each pepper into long slices and add it to the pan. Once you have a nice color on the sausage you can pour in the jar of sauce, fresh, chopped basil and cover with a lid. You then pop the pan into the oven and cook for 30-45 minutes at 425 degrees. The best way to test if the sausage is cooked all the way thru is to cut one open and check that the color is a nice brown. Once this is the case you can take it out and let it cool for a few minutes. The sausage goes well with either rice or pasta depending on your mood and preference. I usually put this on to cook about 20 minutes after the sausage goes in the oven. If you are trying to go low carb this dish is amazing without anything more than a sprinkling of parmesan cheese. And the best part is that the leftovers are great as breakfast with an over easy egg.

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Gift Ideas Week 1

I have 5 nieces and 4 nephews (and one godson) and they are my favorite people on the entire planet. Their ages range from 18 to 1 year old. Every year my goal is to give them the best birthday and Christmas presents I can come up with. I spend months researching and dreaming up the best gift ideas. It is a contest I have with myself – can I top last year’s PERFECT gift. Trust me – this is beyond stressful but since my main goal in life is to be there favorite Auntie it is soooooo worth it.

Last Christmas I hit upon the perfect idea. I found a website that can turn photos into black and white line drawings that are pretty amazing coloring pages. This gave me the perfect idea. I would make personalized activity books for each of the little kids. Now I have to admit I didn’t realize how time consuming this project would be so if you are doing this for more than one child at a time you better allow a few weeks to make it happen.

First things first I picked 5 photos of each of the kids that I had taken over the years. I then logged into  http://scrapcoloring.com/convert-images-to-coloring-pages and converted each photo to a coloring page.  Here is a sample of one of the pages.

Next stop was http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages where I downloaded activity pages – connect the numbers and games. I also decided to rewrite some of our favorite fairy tales to be about the kids. Their favorite was my version of the Three Little Pigs which became The Three Little Cousins. Once I had created all of the elements I was ready to assemble the books which only required a trip to Kinko’s where they printed and assembled the pages and covers I had created. Then before wrapping them I wrote a special note to each child on the inside cover of their book.

When they opened their present they had a special, personal activity book that they could spend hours enjoying and then keep as a memory of that time of their life if they wanted.

Organizational Week

 

 

Ok, I have to start this first posting by admitting something all of my friends already know… I am a full fledged NEAT FREAK. I HATE clutter. It literally makes me lose my sh*t, break out into hives, sweats, and shakes.  I have literally had to stop myself from organizing other people’s cabinets. One night my friends thought it would be funny to move everything in my kitchen around. I didn’t speak to them for a week! Who does that kind of thing???? I mean……..  This isn’t a newly acquired CRAZY either. This is “deep seated, long running, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest” crazy. At age 4 my parents found me standing on the bathroom counter “cleaning”. I was organizing our medicine cabinet.

 

This is why people pay me to organize their world. I was born to do it. And since I’m not a stingy person (just a little left of normal), I plan to share all my organizational wizadry with you. Once a month I will give you a tried and true, sure fire way to streamline your life. Whether you implement these pearls of wisdom is up to you. But seriously, why wouldn’t you?!?!?!

This month we are going to start in the HAVEN of a woman’s life…. THE BATHROOM. Over the course of her life a woman spends countless hours in her bathroom; showering, exfoliating, plucking, primping, teasing and just straight up enjoying all the ways we have at our finger tips to get beautiful. Unfortunately, all this beautifying means more bottles, tubes, bands, brushes and canisters than we can possibly have room for.

My linear brain couldn’t handle all of this so I found a way to deal with the clutter and mayhem. And it only required a trip to Target and saving deli containers - Oh and my trusty label maker. Ok I have to admit I have two of them. One is a nice mini option that I can haul around with me (you never know when there will be a labeling emergency.. seriously) and the other is the mother of all label makers with a full keyboard and 12 different type styles. Who knew you needed to use different fonts for different labeling projects – ME.

For those of you who don’t have a label maker, you can make labels on your printer using label stock or just plain paper and some tape but seriously where is the fun in that? Sigh….. definitely not as pretty either.

From Target purchase stackable, storage bins. I like the ones with pretty blue snap closures. I find the process of sealing them closed VERY satisfying. (please see above admission that I am INSANE). I also recommend reusing the plastic food containers that your take out orders come in. From there it’s a breeze.

 

Start by sorting your bathroom paraphernalia into categories and containers-  First Aid, Nail Stuff, Facial Items, Dental and Vision, Extra Make Up, Hair Bands, Clips, Bobby Pins, etc. Then label your containers and seal. Each container is now labeled and stacked neatly in my bathroom cupboards and drawers. It is beyond easy to find what I need when I need it. I don’t break out in hives when I am in the bathroom. And even better is the look on my friends’ faces when they ask for a band aid and I show them the FIRST AID container. YEP INSANE!