Catching up

So as I said here, there are a lot of things I need to write about.
Today let's tackle PRESCRIPTION RIP-OFFS.

We are a relatively healthy couple with very few prescriptions between us. Recently, my husband was diagnosed with a gluten allergy that causes SEVERE skin irritation. As a result, he has a regular creme prescription that he uses to heal his hands from the years of adverse reaction.

This prescription was more than $70 in most stores, but we found it cheapest at Wal-Mart (around $55). But slowly it began to creep up to meet the other stores. After 6 months or so it was $73 everywhere and it would last him about 3 weeks.

Learning to be more kind

I'm not sure when it was, but recently I noticed that I'm not really kind.

Some people are so appropriately thoughtful, I was not. I'm actually sort of stingy and selfish at times (often called spoiled), but hey, realization is half the battle.

When I really think about it, I may have become more kind as a reaction to some really inconsiderate behaviors I've witnessed.

Even with my at-time selfishness, I am always considerate.  I care a LOT about peoples feelings which leads me to Exhibit A.

I DETEST seeing people deliver used (not matter how gently used) clothing or shoes to children in garbage bags. Clothes that are new to you, should not be come that way. It's inconsiderate.

You will GET every time you GIVE

So there's this awesome project in my town.

Sewing pillowcase dresses for needy girls in Lexington (instead of Africa).

I consider myself a pretty good sewer, but there's always more to learn and the more you sew the bigger your imagination grows.

Doing this has put me in touch with probably 100 Black women who sew in MY OWN TOWN! How awesome is that to now have sewing mentors? I now have friends of mine who never wanted to sew before, who are sewing these simple dresses made of pillowcases, elastic and a bit of extra fabric for straps.

I've also got some great ideas for the next sewing class I'll teach.

So remember, anytime an opportunity is presented to use your talents JUST DO IT! The reward is sure to be better than you imagined.

Here's my first pillowcase dress to donate. All materials were donated to the project and I picked these out.

What's For Dinner?

This week:

Navy Bean Soup
Farina Muffins
Broccoli/Carrots

Chili (w/small red beans and local ground lamb)
Oyster crackers

Fried Cabbage w/broccoli/carrots
Rice
Bean Soup

Baked fish
Rice
Chopped spinach

Fish hoagies
Broccoli slaw w/raisins/pineapple

Chili
Grilled cheese on wheat

PRODUCTIVE 101

I think that most, if not all, of my problems during any given day can be boiled down to my lack of organization. At this moment, I'm trying to find more time for exercise and sewing or crafting. I know I have 1 1/2 hours a night, I just can't find it right now!!

Here's how I tackled it:
1. The old-fashioned "to-do" list on my desk at work. Every time I sit at my desk, I know what I'm supposed to do by looking at that list and it cuts down on the time spent trying to think of what I was supposed to do. Also, I do NOT FACEBOOK, TWEET OR BLOG on my work computer. It's strictly business when I'm at my desk.

(google image)

2. A weekly menu. I shop using the menu and then I try to double up on the cooking or chopping. 

My menu this week:

• Baked Chicken, Rice, Broccoli and Carrots
• Baked Fish, spanish rice, broccoli
• Oven Fried Fish, Cole slaw, roasted potatoes
• Black beans and rice, spinach with garlic
• Navy Bean Soup, farina muffins, broccoli and carrots
• Lentil chili, farina muffins

Monday, chili was on the menu so I chopped all the green pepper, onions, carrots and garlic I'd need for the week and put it in bags in the freezer. Some things are shredded, some chopped by hand and some in a food processor. I bag them for each dish. (I'll take pics next time) This way I'm sure nothing will rot in the fridge if we eat out or get invited over for a dinner AND everything is handy I just throw it in a pot. 

Also, I made a double batch of farina muffins so I had to only bake one night. The second batch is in the fridge (or freezer)

(Before anyone tells me that they sell pre-chopped veggies in the grocery store, I know :o) I don't like that stuff though, it never gets soft and I don't know how long its been frozen. I only buy broccoli and spinach frozen if we didn't grow enough to last through the winter)

3. I straighten my living, dining and bathrooms each day. I don't let clutter, toys and mail build up.

I've been going strong on this routine since the beginning of the year, I think I can start sewing by this weekend. It took me a minute because I had some organizing projects to knock out. Like toy shelves for my daughter behind a door in the living room, re-organizing my kitchen cabinets and mapping my 2012 garden plots.

Feeling all domestic and stuff

Something about the cold weather....makes me want to hibernate and clean and nest and cuddle. Planning  to do some upgrades to my living room and have a girls gathering.

The lesson in THE LESSONS

I've been really studying my "lessons". If you didn't know, many Muslims study and learn from a book affectionately called "the lessons". Many rappers rap about them and make sayings from the facts found there. The saying "word is bond" comes from this book of lessons too.

This recent dedication to intense study has allowed me to reach a great place that I never knew existed within me. I have developed the desire and ability to pay attention to detail and work in a much more detailed and precise manner.

My cleaning, cooking, sewing, instruction and business affairs all look as if completed by someone other than me.

I'm looking at my outfits, shoes, home decor and hair with new eyes.

Just getting it done is no longer enough. I want to do it all in the correct manner.

It's actually less work to do things properly the first time. Who knew?

Green Monday - Garden Updates

I've already decided to do a post about the lessons I learned about gardening. Because it has NOT been all good!

But here's the good...

We're in full bloom now...hard to believe that we started here.

Our second bunch of green peppers:

And finally, SOME CUCUMBERS!!!

Spring Wardrobe Additions

I have committed to the following patterns in the very near future:
For myself I chose:

Above is Butterick 3907

 Above is Simplicity 2636

And for baby girl:

Simplicity 2715

These will be a top for her and I'm looking for a good pants pattern to go with this.

I hoping to have all the fabric in my current stash and may only need a notion here or there to get these done.

First up are a pair of pants made from the same material as this jacket.

Finally, the 2 month project is finished

Immediately I liked the look of this outfit because it had separates. I love short jackets on me. Most tops look way too big on me because of my bust size. I was hoping that this would be a jacket that I would like enough to make several of and I LOVE it.

The jacket was super easy and except for me not having a real iron, it was a breeze. As you can see I need to send it for professional pressing, which I'll do in the morning ;o)

I chose to make the mini-dress to wear as a top. The pattern only lined the bust, but since my material was thin I chose to line the entire thing. It was not very challenging and did not even pose a problem for me when it was time to add the zipper. Considering my sewing level, I'd have to call this project an advanced intermediate project.

This was also my first attempt at serging since buying one which I'll review in another post. Aminah Hanan piqued my interest in sergers and I went to get a demonstation of them and now I'm hooked. I didn't know how to get that professional look inside and out and now I realize that the serger is the difference!


That's it for this one! I highly recommend this pattern for anyone who is hard to fit. You can alter it easily, the pattern is simple to follow and I think with the right fabric choices you'll be pleased.

I also need to do a post about the fabric store in Chicago I got this great fabric from.

Tell me what you think and be kind....;o)

Uh-Oh! I just got caught slipping!

So I bought all this sweet fabric when I went to Chicago Labor Day weekend at Vogue Fabrics.

Now it's ummm, December! And I have not completed another new garment for myself.

I meant to have one done for my mother's 70th birthday party...NOT.

Then have one ready to go to a business meeting in Cincy...NOT.

Then have one ready for Thanksgiving....NOT.

Now, my family was just gifted a two week trip to Vegas and I am NOT going to take another picture in the same outfits.

Sewing updates coming soon!

Four day COUNTDOWN!!!

No, we don't "celebrate" what has come to be called Thanksgiving, but we do eat big and have guests on that day.

Mainly because it is a tradition.  And secondly, we have to acknowledge that this is a day that EVERYONE else is gathering and it can cause people to feel unloved if they are alone.

So we use this day as one to reach out to all of our friends and make sure that no one is alone this ONE DAY.  I can't do it everyday, but on Thanksgiving I try to invite everyone I can.

I started baking on Saturday. I bake in advance because I have one of those vacuum sealers and can freeze the items.  Some things freeze better than others so this is what I made in consideration of that:

I'm doing a much simpler menu this year. Last year, we went a little big.  I got it done, but did not feel like I got to enjoy myself.  This year, its a must that I am not cooking much on Thursday, because I have planned BIG fun projects for Babygirl!

This is not one of my cakes, but I WISH I was invited to dinner sometime and could just make on INCREDIBLE thing to take.  But, we're in Lexington and no one ever invites anyone over (except us).

Dessert Menu:
Carrot Pie w/fresh whipped cream
Pound Cake w/ice cream
Homemade cookies (usually oatmeal w/butterscotch and dates)
Pie and cake are done! Next up bean soup!

p.s. My camera has been in the shop since October! I surely hope it's back from Nikon before Thursday, otherwise no pics :o(

The cold has arrived....

We don't get sick much around here.  We homeschool and we work from home so our exposure to people is so limited we don't get the communicable diseases much.

Well, me and babygirl have been catching the city bus all the way over to homeschool coop so that is triple the germs and thus....the cough!  Babygirl is coughing and the bottom of my throat is burning.

Today was co-op day and they cancelled due to so many illnesses.  Great call! I promise to do a post about our local co-ops, but first the sickness post.

When anyone is sick: I buy liquid Lysol and get to wiping.  Door knobs, doors, toilet handles and seats, water faucets, tables and kitchen counters. Anything that can take it. Then I come back with the spray Lysol.  This is done twice per day. (either morning or evening and then one naptime run through). Plenty of liquid soap for hand washing and lots of laundry.  We wash bed clothes and linens daily during illnesses and I do a bit of a quarantine.  I try to confine the person to one floor of the house.  Our bedrooms, TV room and two baths are upstairs plus we have a laptop so confinement is pretty easy.

Also, when illness is over new toothbrushes!

When momma is sick: The same applies but our menu goes to simple mode.  Last night I ordered take out since I was just feeling it. Today I can get up and get two soups going and go buy juice and things for sandwiches.  My kitchen shuts down when I'm sick.  I don't want to spread anything while I'm cooking or serving and I don't need the extra dishes and work.  I can handle loading and unloading the dishwasher.

I always look around for home remedies for illness so those vary by symptom.  But we do keep apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, lemon, garlic, honey, molassas, distilled water and cayenne pepper around which in some combination, make up most home remedies.

Also, here's some professional advice....I don't advocate vaccines (even flu ones) but her other advice about rest and general health are good to me.

What's your sick routine?

OK, I'm due to do some posting

So this is what I do.  The posts that I do on this blog take a lot of time. I usually have pics and a lot of information. But time, I'm really short on.

I do a lot of Twittering (@SisterP) so I put that cute little box over on the left so you can see that I'm alive even when I don't post.

Right now there's some problem with the feed so I guess I need to post.

Ramadan:
Wow! I had the most amazing month.  Much learned, much accomplished, ready to move forward in the footsteps of Allah's messengers.  Eid celebration yet to be scheduled by my study group. (I know, I know....)

Work:
Need a recharge FOR REAL! Still working on that.  Got an award which I'll talk about.

Homeschool:
We are unschooling right now, but not on purpose LOL!

Housework:
Weeks behind due to some over commitment on my part.

Sewing:
Got a new serger. I have also completed some tasks and pants for babygirl.  Need to begin work on my fall clothes, luckily it's still hot here.

Other businesses:
Have great business idea but it hinges greatly on the work of someone I don't think I can rely on.  This may be an easy one to brush off of my plate.

Book series still in discussion stage.

Other projects:
My mom's 70th bornday celebration is coming fast and I have to come up with the presentation portion of the luncheon. Lots of research and calling about.

What's hot Wednesday - Martha Stewart Website

You just can't front.  Martha can do it all.

On this site, a budding Domestic Diva can get tips on cake decorating, recipes, organizing, you name it.

I follow her on Twitter and sometimes am prompted to pop over and I'm never disappointed (except at the amount of time I lost reading over there, LOL).

When you find yourself in a homemaking bind, check out MS and most times you'll find what you seek!

Happy Homemaking!

Mall? What mall?

I needed to have a meeting with someone who is a bus rider so I thought, how about the mall?

When I scoured the lot for a space and finally made it indoors I thought, "When have I even been in here?"

The biggest mall in the region is within walking distance to my home. I pass it several times each week, but I haven't stepped inside since....I think it was when I last bought BG (BabyGirl) her school shoes in August of last year.

That is a major accomplishment by any standard! I have mostly bought fabric and a sweater or underwear somewhere, but buying ready to wear mass produced clothing has been OUT!

I did swing by Stride Rite on my way out to check the sandal options for BG and was pleasantly surprised at all the ones with straps to cover her toes. I was getting worried now that she is in a 13. I'm dreading that period where she has feet too big for child-looking shoes and is too young for that "tween" thing they have going.

I am officially "unhooked" on clothes shopping and when I get a serger...look out WORLD. I may make underwear too!

45 minute tam!

Doll Update

OK...real talk.

These dolls are a bit more complicated than I figured. I am not an experienced sewer and am striving to be a real seamstress (for myself) so I've been taking on every possible sewing project to gain the experience.

The cutting was cool, but now I am embroidering! I had to do the faces.

I wanted to have the two bodies done last Saturday, but I should finish the faces this week and stitch the two dolls this Saturday, then begin on the clothes.

Up next...

I'm ordering my first Burda pattern this week.

It's is Burda pattern 8239. I found the fabric I want and it goes on sale this month.

I'm also starting two dolls for BabyGirl this week. Simplicity pattern 2729.

I'll keep you posted and I hope to have another garment photo ready soon. Got some hemming to do.

Farina bread/muffins

One of my favorite breads to make and eat is Farina Bread!If you didn't know, farina is wheat. Cream of Wheat is actually farina.

Eating dried corn (corn meal products) is discouraged in How To Eat To Live so we make this which is just like cornbread.

Here is the recipe I use most. It is not quite as sweet as Jiffy but it's sweeter than Grandma's, LOL! I sometimes make muffins.

I serve this with bean soup. Also my daughter likes farina muffins with milk and yogurt and fruit for breakfast. It is a fortified cereal so it has similar nutrients to oatmeal and some cold cereals.

Farina Bread
1c wheat flour
1c farina
1/2 c raw sugar
2T baking powder
1t salt
1c buttermilk
2 eggs
1/2 t vanilla (optional)
1/2 stick butter melted

Melt butter in a baking pan (glass; 8x8 or pie plate), set aside. In a large bowl combine all ingredients including melted butter. Mix well. Pour into greased (from melted butter) pan . Bake 30-35 minutes on 350-375 degrees until toothpick comes out clean.
Note: All cakes and bread should rest for 24 hours before serving.