SAG Awards Favorites

If you're into the awards and the red carpet fashion, I'm sure you have already seen all the favorites from last nights awards show. I won't go through every one that I loved or hated, but I will share a few that I have been inspired by.

Cutouts

Kyra Sedgwick in a red Pucci and Amber Heard in black Zac Posen. 

 I can't get enough of Kyra's dress! And damn, she looks good for her age too! I'm sorta obsessing over cutouts and thinking of patterns I can alter for dresses with this look for the summer. 

Lace necklines

Stacey Keibler in Marchesa and Michelle Williams in Valentino. 

I really love the scalloped lace necklines of both of these dresses and I even have a pattern with a similar look! I'm a little hesitant to work with lace though. So we'll see....

McCalls 6505 New Spring pattern

I was so thrilled when I found this pattern because it reminds me of this Lauren Conrad Marchesa dress. I'd be pretty proud of myself if I could make this very similar. 

Whole Wheat Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs

I don't know why I don't make spaghetti more often because it is SO easy! Pasta + Jar of sauce = dinner. I have never made meatballs and when I saw this recipe I thought it looked easy enough and healthy too!

I'm glad I tried this recipe and plan to keep this one forever!

Whole Wheat Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients:
1 large egg beaten
3 Tbsp nonfat milk
1/4 c Italian bread crumbs
1/4 c grated parmesan cheese
1lb ground turkey
Salt
Pepper
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1/2 lb whole wheat spaghetti
Basil to garnish

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 375 degrees
-Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper
-In a medium bowl combine the egg with milk, bread crumbs, parmesan, red pepper and S&P to taste. Mix well.
-Add turkey to the bowl. Use your hands to mix all together. It gets messy. I suggest removing rings.
-Shape turkey into balls about the size of a golf ball. Makes about 24 balls. Place about 1 inch apart on baking sheet
-Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, Flip balls and cook for another 5 minutes until brown on top.
-While balls are in oven, heat jar of marinara over medium heat and start boiling water for spaghetti.
-Once meatballs are cooked add them to marinara sauce.
-Cook spaghetti according to package. Drain and add to sauce.
-Garnish with Basil

Enjoy!

**I have to admit I ran out of whole wheat pasta, so this picture is just plain spaghetti. 

Pork Piccata with Lemon and Capers

I made this for dinner last night and it was pretty tasty! I got the recipe out of a fitness magazine (so it must be good for you), but I didn't follow it very well. I hate when recipes aren't easy to follow or written well. I'll do my best to re-write it so it's easier to follow along while cooking.

Pork Piccata with Lemon and Capers
Ingredients (in order as you will use them)
1 pound pork tenderloin, trimmed
3 Tbsp flour
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp of olive oil
2 tsp of olive oil (see directions)
2 minced garlic cloves
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup low sodium chicken broth
2 tsp of olive oil
3 minced garlic cloves
1/2 bag fresh spinach
1Tbsp butter
1/2 a lemon squeezed or 2 Tbsp lemon juice
4 tsp capers
2 Tbsp parsley

Directions:
-Cut pork against grain into about twelve 1/2 inch slices. Press each to flatten slightly.
-Combine flour, 1/4 tsp pepper and 1/2 tsp salt in a small bowl.
-Drag pork pieces through flour mixture coating each side.
-Heat 2 tsp olive oil in a large skillet. Add half of the pork and cook on each side for 2-3 minutes until cooked through. Set aside cooked pieces. Cook other half of the pork in another 2 tsp olive oil.
-Set aside all cooked pork.
-In empty pork skillet saute 2 minced garlic cloves and wine. Add chicken broth after 2 minutes.
-Meanwhile heat another skillet with 2 tsp (or more if needed) olive oil and 3 minced garlic cloves. Add spinach in batches, saute tossing for 3 minutes. Salt and Pepper to taste.
-Add butter, lemon juice, capers and parsley to skillet with wine sauce. Add pork back to skillet to keep warm.

Serve pork topped with spinach. Enjoy!

Pink and Grey Chevron

I'm sort of obsessed with chevron fabric right now. I just LOVE the look! I have a zillion ideas of how to use it! I'm really pleased with the way this dress turned out. I love the pink lining. It was super easy to make and I have enough fabric to make another one for one of my other favorite baby girls!

I added the tag just for fun. I bought these a while ago because they said my name, but they are a little old fashioned. One of my goals this year is to design and order my own tags! 

Inspiration

Here's a look at what's inspiring me for upcoming sewing projects! Bright colors, stripes, chevron, and interesting cutout backs. 

 

Hamburger Soup

I have to admit that I tried to make this soup healthier and compromised the taste and also added to the blah(ness) of the photos. I recommend just following the recipe.

Hamburger Soup
1lb ground beef (I used turkey and it wasn't as tasty as it could have been)
1 Tbls Olive oil
1/2 a medium sized onion, chopped
2 Tbls minced garlic
2 cans of beef stock
1 can of corn
1 can of condensed tomato soup
1 Tbsp Hot Pepper Sauce
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 can of chopped tomatoes (Rotel is great too!)
1 cup pasta (small shells, elbow, bows, etc)

Saute onion and garlic in olive oil. Add ground beef and cook until brown. Add remaining ingredients (except pasta). Bring to a boil and then add pasta. Cook for about 20 minutes or until pasta is fully cooked.

Enjoy!

Jalapeno Cheddar Chip Crusted Chicken

I made this for dinner last night and it was SO good! Dan even asked for more. Unfortunately, I didn't make enough for seconds. I will definitely make this again.

Jalapeno Cheddar Chip Crusted Chicken
Ingredients:
2-4 Chicken Breasts
1/2 bag of Jalapeno flavored chips (several brands out there)
1/2 cup milk
dash of cayenne pepper
dash of salt
ranch dressing


Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix milk, cayenne pepper, and salt in a bowl. Pour chips into large zip lock bag and crush as small as possible. Coat rimmed cookie sheet with cooking spray. I like to use foil for easier cleanup. Drag each chicken breast through the milk mixture and shake off excess. Place in zip lock bag with chip crumbs. Smush around until breast is coated (did that sound like a Jersey Shore reference?) Place on cookie sheet. Bake for 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Drizzle with ranch for a cool and spicy taste.

Enjoy!

2012

As most people do, I've started out the year with a fresh mindset. I look back lovingly on the great memories created in 2011 and look forward to those of 2012. Last year was a great year for me and it will be hard to top. 2011 was spent planning our beautiful wedding, getting married, honeymooning, adopting a funny little bulldog, and many more cherished memories with friends and family.

As for my blog, it had it's ups and downs last year. With my mind filled with wedding plans I had so much to blog about, but not as much time to sew or cook sometimes going for a few weeks without posting. I even removed the blog for a few weeks until I started hearing from my readers. I truly appreciate my followers and can't tell you how much it means to hear that you made a recipe of mine or that you look forward to me posting! I have some goals set for the blog this year including posting more often, trying new recipes every week and challenging myself to sewing projects. I'll do my best to keep you entertained!

To wrap up 2011 I wanted to share with you my ups and downs with sewing. I can truly say that I feel like my sewing has improved so much over the last year. Around the holidays I was going through my dresses from last year and finding so many mistakes that I now know how to fix or do better. It feels good to improve! Last year I got a dress form, bought a Serger sewing machine, new sewing table, and bookshelves to better organize my things. I feel much more confident in my sewing skills and hope to continue improvement this year.

I don't often share with you projects that fail or are unfinished. But I think it's important for me to see how far I've come and what I have learned from mistakes.  I have a few that turned up while cleaning out my sewing closet. Honestly, I cannot say for each project why it was left unfinished or if I ever will finish it. But hey, practice makes perfect, right?

Sorry in advance for all the wrinkles, they were all shoved away in the closet. 

 Red skirt- not sure why I didn't finish this. Maybe no lining?

 Pink Dress- couldn't figure out how to sew on straps. 

 I was using 2 different patterns for the bodice. 

 

Navy puff sleeves- I wasn't sure how to finish sleeves. I made the sleeve ruffle without a pattern. 

I would like to finish this some day as I really like it!

 Black knit ruffle one strap-

Another attempt without using a pattern. Cute idea though.

 I love the idea for this dress. I made the pattern up for the bodice (as shown) but want to use 4 different patterns for the rest of the dress. I want to finish this dress this spring, but need some time and patience. I'll keep ya posted on it! 

 Great idea! I'll make a wool coat for the fall. Obviously, it never even got cut out! 

Honestly, the lady cutting the fabric scared me into thinking it will be too hard for me. She asked if I knew how to match the plaids up. Umm no....  Hopefully I will tackle this challenge for next fall! 

I started this dress with my mom quite awhile ago. It's the same as the pink dress above that I couldn't get the straps correct. Our plan was to attach a ruffle onto the straps. It ended up looking like Bozo's collar, and we therefore removed it.

So Happy New Year to you all! Thanks so much for following my blog! Feel free to leave comments of things you like and wish to see more of.

Grilled Pesto Chicken Panini

Grilled Pesto Chicken Panini 

Ingredients:
loaf of ciabatta bread
chicken breasts or tenders
mozzarella cheese slices
pesto (you can find it with the marinara sauce in the grocery store)
jarred roasted red peppers or fresh tomatoes

Directions:
I generally use frozen chicken and let it marinate in a small amount of Italian dressing to thaw, but you can just use fresh chicken breasts or tenders. I have learned that breasts seem to be pretty thick and make the sandwich difficult to eat. Grill or cook chicken on stove.

Meanwhile heat up your panini maker or George Foreman grills work too.

Once chicken is cooked all the way through, layer cheese, chicken, pesto and  sliced peppers or tomatoes on bread. It's best to place cheese closest to bread so it will melt.

Place on grill/Foreman and press down top holding for 60 seconds. Set timer for 4 minutes. After 4 minutes carefully turn sandwich over and close top for another 4 minutes.

Enjoy!

Black Knit dress

I wanted to make this dress last year and never got around to it. My inspiration was this French Connection dress.

Mine didn't turn out quite the replica that I hoped (long sleeves with deep V), but it's still pretty cute!

Worn on Christmas Eve! 

For Sale: 35 Silver Pintuck Overlay Linens

I have 35 (72x72") Silver Pintuck Overlay linens from my wedding to sell. I am looking for a local buyer or someone close to save on shipping! Comment below or email me for details!

Did you miss me?

Well at least one person did! Which makes me feel good and bad at the same time. A friend suggested I post soon, because it's been so long. So I know I have at least one person who reads my blog! Sorry for my vacation, which wasn't really a vacation at all. As a matter of fact I worked last week. Blah. I did have a few days off for the holidays and I will share photos and stories later. I'm currently busy digging myself out of this mess below.... It's a new year and another fresh start, so I have lots of ideas of sewing projects and recipes to make and post. Happy 2012!

Re-organizing our sewing/office/guest room. 

wish me luck!