Perfection can be Overrated

Confession:  I'm not a perfectionist.  I tend to multi-task to the point of distraction.  I typically don't measure when I bake.  I can claim a lot of imperfect accomplishments.  But the job gets done, I am usually satisfied with the outcome and I move onto the next task.

I have been sewing for about 3 years and my approach is much the same.  I have made friends with my seam ripper, typically run my machine on a straight side at the top speed and overlook a bunch of flaws.  Thankfully, my sister, whose kids are the prime consumer of my sewing output, has this same gift for overlooking flaws.  She has also made friends with an old fashioned needle and thread to mend the seams I occasionally miss.

Yet, she's a repeat customer so I figure she must be happy.  And she's created for me a board on Pinterest to further hint at what she would like to suggest as a next project for me.  She even named it "for mimi" as if naming it after the sweet name my niece christened me with years ago would do the trick.  Well it did and I  took her up on this tutorial for a ruffled skirt this week.  It's cute, it's easy and it let me use up some fabric odds and ends that just happened to coordinate.

Here's the result (elastic to be added) and hope you will agree that as with most sewing projects the flaws will be overlooked as long as the fabric is cute and there's ruffles involved.  My sweet niece, Ellie Bean, will be a happy girl once she gives this skirt a twirl.

Any cute sewing projects for little ones that you would recommend?

BTW, here's some blogs I follow that help satisfy a sewing fix:  Made by Rae, Sew Like My Mom and Gussy Sews.

Pinterest Trial:  Ruffled Skirt
Review:  Easy and good for leftover fabric scraps

'Tis the Season for Margaritas

The postings on Pinterest would make one think that we all have inordinate amounts of time on our hands for crafting, we have a limitless home decorating budget, most of our meals come straight from crock pots and that we are all routine consumers of frosty and fruity beverages.  Since I have limited time, an even more limited budget and don't even own a crock pot (yet!), I will gladly be the last.  

When I was a child, the month of May would bring to mind the rhyme of "April showers brings May flowers," but as an adult and particularly as an adult that just finished her 2nd semester of a PhD program, 'tis the season for margaritas.

Plus in my world, the dawn of summer means the return of rooftop entertaining.  I live in an apartment smaller than most people's living rooms so with a view like this, spending as much time on my building's rooftop when the weather permits is a no-brainer.

Last week I hosted a few of my classmates for a little food and drink on the rooftop - a perfect opportunity to try out one of the viral drink recipes on Pinterest.  Touted as "The Best Margaritas," this non-traditional take on an old favorite did not disappoint. With limeade, 7-up, vodka and beer making up its ingredients, the result is refreshing, tasty....and strong.  I adjusted the recipe to include a little more soda than the recipe called for, and the drink was just how a margarita should be - tart, sweet and strong.  Good stuff and I'm already planning to make this as the "house drink" when I go away with friends for Memorial Day.

As a bonus, I also made these Creamy Lemon Bars to pair with drinks, chips and guacamole on the rooftop.  These bars are a great combo of salty, sweet and citrusy. Yum!

Pinterest Trial:  The Best Margarita
The Bonus:  Creamy Lemon Bars
Review:  Easy and tasty!

My "Go-To's"

A girl has got to have her "go-to's" - the things you do, wear, go to, talk to when you are in a pinch or just need a reliable fall-back plan.  My beloved Grandma Arkansas told me once that muffins were her "strong suit" when she was taking food to someone in that way that Southern women know how to do so well.  That's exactly how she described her blueberry muffin - her strong suit.  A muffin made blue from the berries' juices seeping through the batter graced many a table because she knew they were dependable and worth sharing.  

When I think about it, I have my own set of reliable go-to's in my life.  My sister who faithfully talks through any situation.  Room 11 when I want a lovely night out or Astor when take out will do the trick.  The familiarity of 30A has become the go-to of winter holidays for my family.  There's the dress I bought on whim at Banana a few years ago that has been reliably dressed up and down.  The cocktail of blueberry simple syrup and vanilla vodka has become standard repertoire for my summer entertaining.

And then there's all the delights I find on Pinterest that are inviting me to make new friends and welcome them in as standard fare.  I like trying new things - sometimes.  Familiar is comforting but new can be refreshing.  The anticipation if it's going to turn out like the recipe and review said.  How it measures up to old favorites will determine its staying power .  Well, making this recipe three times in three weeks to all rave reviews has made it a new "go-to."

Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars graced the table for a going away party, a dinner with a friend and a discussion group at my church.  It's no ordinary cookie bar - it's good like eating raw cookie dough straight from the bowl good but it's cooked and not a health risk good.  It even got a rave review from a 85-year old church member that has many more desserts in her repertoire to compare it to - I took that as a high compliment.

I'm sure there are more delights to discover but for now I am confident these bars will make yet another appearance and I'm sure if you tried, you might try again too.  Enjoy and let me know in comments what are your reliable recipes or go-to's in life.

Pinterest Trial:  Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars
Review:  Delicious and easy

The Challenge

So here's the deal.  I like being crafty+cooking, etc + Pinterest is fun to look at.  Lots of people try to make ways to live more in the present so why not try Pinterest.  To stop saying I want to try or do.... and start doing it.

In the course of my school procrastination, Pinterest has become a favorite outlet.  I have tried various ideas on it with various levels of success (dutch oven bread>not so much vs. toffee bars=rave reviews).  In the spirit that I am a single girl living in a studio apartment, a lot of the things on it don't make any sense for me but are fun to consider and dream about for one day.  Plus I may have started one too many sentences with "I saw this on Pinterest....."

It's early May, and it's officially the start of my summer.  School is out for nearly four months.  I will still be working on various school and consulting type gigs but I need a little more creative in my life so am starting this challenge to try at least one new thing from Pinterest each week.  I'll try to mix it up but there will be no major renovations or even grand makeovers (think small space and smaller budget).  But perhaps I'll get a crockpot, try my hand at spray painting something, indulge some new recipes and have a little fun.  And perhaps this will continue past summer because a little creative in life is never a bad thing.

Suggestions are most welcome and if nothing else, I will satisfy at least one of my sister's suggestions at things I should start (a blog) in her list of living vicariously through me (still to be tried: starting a food truck, starting a sewing business....)

And a disclaimer: I have no idea about copyright of Pinterest so no harm was intended in the use of their name.  I'm not sure this disclaimer helps things if it becomes an issue but thought it couldn't hurt either.