Quick Shot of Inspiration

We are in my hometown for a few days. And I'm planning on spending some time with my Little Cousin J tomorrow. She's 100% girl. With all the whimsy and fluff, that is a girl. She likes to dress up, paint her nails, play with dolls. Oh, and she's 2 years old!

So when I saw this little project on Little Miss Momma, just a few short hours ago, I knew I had to make it! I ran to the nearest Hobby Lobby, as it was closing. Begged them to let me in. And in less than 2 minutes, I had my stack of fabric, ready to be cut!



I chose white, bubblegum pink, and lavender. Remember, I told you Little J is all girl! A wise girl that LOVES her some Minnie Mouse, and Disney Princesses. :) I decided, I could whip this up tonight. With a quick stop at Target, my purchases were complete.



It's taken all of 30 minutes to whip up the "tent." And I've got everything cut out for this sweet blanket. Oh, and a few pillows to sit on. I just need to get them sewn up!

How is that for a quick shot of inspiration? Funny how some things work out. I found a new blog that I LOVE!!! And I just might have to whip up another playful set. For a very specific little girl. Who I know, will LOVE this to pieces!!! I can already see her playing tea party inside. With all her dolls. I can't wait!!! ♥

Wise Owl Tote Bag: Week 4

I almost forget that it was Sunday. I know! We're back from our vacation. But my brain still hasn't caught up. How are your bags coming along? Are they starting to look like owls?

I've gotten tons of fun e-mails this week. With pictures of your bags. Wow! They look AMAZING!!! If you want to send me yours, e-mail me at SweetNightingaleSing (at) gmail (dot) com.

This week, is going to be all about the little parts. The things I generally lose, if I don't attach them immediately! Please tell me, I'm not alone! This week, our goal is to make the inner eyes, outer eyes, and the beak. Oh, and attach everything! You know, so we don't lose them. :)



Before we go much further, don't forget this week, we'll be needing 2-12mm buttons for the eyes. I found some cute and inexpensive ones at Wal-Mart. They come in packs of 6 for $2. A wonderful buy if you ask me! Oh, and we'll also be needing a sewing needle. I like to use "tapestry needles," for this kind of work. But use whatever you feel comfortable with.

Lastly, don't forget to leave long tails, at the end of these pieces. It makes it A LOT easier to sew them in place. And then to hide the ends later. Now let's have a wonderful week crocheting! And if you need some help don't hesitate to contact Cari or I. Now let's give our owls a little personality! ♥

The Good, The Bad, And Some Fun Time!!!

Hi everyone! Long time, no chat. :) Well, this guy and I, were enjoying a piece of paradise. It was a nice time away. But turns out, the old blog, was flipping out while I was away. :(

I had a post, set for each day that we were away. Sadly, as you can tell...they didn't post. I don't know what's up. Only that in the "Edit Posts" tab, they show as POSTED. Go figure. I contacted Blogger. Hopefully, within the next few days, they'll be up. Sorry ahead of time. I assume you're feeds, are going to get a little filled up...

But back to the good things. We're in a beautiful, yet extremely H-O-T place! Filled with tons of history!!! I'm getting to spend the day with My Bestie and Baby C. :) Good times people! While My Guy and his friend, are sadly working. All. Day. Long!!!

It's nice to catch up with friends. Especially since it's been so long, since I've last seen My Bestie. And beautiful Baby C!!! Turns out, they've been enjoying tons of "Family Time!!!" And enjoying our friends' new babies. Yes, a few new babies are in town. :)

And with that being said, we're just going to relax. What can I say? I still feel like I'm on vacation. :) Maybe I'll do a little crocheting. Like this fun little project...



What do you think? It doesn't hurt that I adore cupcakes! Between don't you just adore Twinkie Chan? I do! A few years ago, I ran across her on the internet. And now, I'm a HUGE fan! Her book, I'm totally IN LOVE with it too! Happy Saturday!!! ♥

Texas Green Sauce

I think by now, you know that I'm from the Southwest. Born and raised. Until I met this guy, it was the only place I'd ever called home. I've lived in a few cities, in the southwest. For a short time, I lived in another state...still in the southwest.

So you should know, I was raised on all things chili. It's the one thing that I miss most, about living in the South. Especially the Southeast. Where in the heck do you find chili? Well, this guy, is a doll! And he even goes out of his way, to buy a couple of sacks. Every August, and has them shipped to us. Gotta LOVE My Guy!!!

I don't just like chili, I LOVE it! I NEED it! And well, I just enjoy every single bite!!! With that being said, not all chili is created equally. What My Guy and his buddy consider a "good bowl" of chili, isn't what I'm thinking. They're thinking of a "stew" like thing. Me? I'm thinking of fresh chili, blended up, nice and thick. And oh so hot!

So when I took a peak at this week's Gooseberry Patch Free Recipe of the Week, I was questioning myself. Do I try this? Who eats chili out of a can? With avocados? I LOVE me some avocados. But with chili, it sounds a little odd...



Texas Green Sauce

4 avocados, pitted, peeled and chopped
16-oz. container sour cream
10-oz. can tomatoes with chiles
1 T. garlic powder
4-oz. can green chiles
2 t. salt
1 t. lemon juice
3-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

Combine all ingredients in an electric blender; process until smooth. Makes 5 cups.



It's good stuff! Promise you. :) Coming from me, that means a lot. I actually made some fresh tortilla chips last night. And made a batch of this. I figured what's the worst that can happen? I hate it, and give it to this guy. But even I surprised myself. It's really yummy!

So much so, we ate almost the entire thing. :) I know! But it was tasty. And we were deep into our movie. I will say this. I drained the chili and the tomatoes first. Then I blended the cream cheese and sour cream well. Smashed half the avocados. Left the other half chunky. Then rough chopped the tomatoes and chili. It made for more of a dip, then a sauce.

I did this mostly, because I didn't know what the sauce would taste like. Or what I'd pair it with. I'm sure it would be nice over grilled chicken. But I was much more into the "chips and dip" thing last night. Either way, the taste is good. And definitely worth a try. ♥

Time for Laughs :)

Tonight, we caught up with some friends. It seems like we haven't seen them in months. Really, it's been about just under 2 weeks. But an evening together, catching up and laughing, was definitely in order.

I cooked up a small feast. My Bestie was in charge of bringing a movie. We bought Baby C a few surprises, and we settled in. Half of me, was sad. Because My Bestie, Baby C, and our pal...had to call it a night...pretty early. But we enjoyed all of our time together.

Back to that movie. Have you ever seen "I Think I Love My Wife?" Hilarious! Had us laughing our pants off! Honestly, I haven't seen a movie, that funny in a looong time! And it definitely added tons of fun to our evening. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking to laugh.



With that being said, time for me to join My Guy, and our fur babies. We're settling in, for a night of good movies. And maybe some more snacks. :) You can't go wrong with good movies, yummy food, and amazing company. Between, do you have any movie recommendations? We're always looking for new movies to watch. New and old. Please share! ♥

I LOVE You Island Coral

Before we left on vacation, I headed to Walgreen's. To pick up a few things, that I thought we'd need. OK, so I didn't NEED a new nail polish. But I bought a few! :)

There's just something about Sinful Colors, that gets me every single time. I picked up 4. It didn't hurt that they were 99 cents! And I only packed 2. Can we say it? I'm in LOVE with "Island Coral."



This color is perfect for the beach. And light skinned gals like me. 2 coats on my toes, and fingers. That was days ago. And it's still going strong. No base coat, no top coat. Just lots of love! It's not too orange. Not too pink. Not too bright. Just perfect for Summer! ♥

Wise Owl Tote Bag: Week 3

Happy Sunday! How is everyone doing? Are your bags coming along nicely? If you're like me, you get a little "addicted" to a project, and you don't want to put it down. Right? I know! Even in paradise, I'm having a problem with just leaving my Wise Owl Tote Bag undone. :)

Our goal this week, is to work the strap and 2 wings. And hopefully attach them to our finished bag. If you're like Cari, you had a very busy week. And she told me, she's going to use today, to "catch up." Then use this week, to make the strap and wings. See it's OK if you work at a slightly different pace.




Don't forget, if you have any problems, questions, or concerns don't hesitate to contact us. That's what we're here for! :) Leave Cari or I a comment. Or send me an e-mail at SweetNightingaleSing (at) gmail (dot) com. See you next Sunday! ♥

Summertime Favorite

I have to put these out there. I'm definitely what you would call a "Girly, Girl." I LOVE makeup, clothes, shoes, jewelry, accessories. All that good stuff. But I've never really felt like I was a gorgeous woman.

Most of this might be, because I cheered when I was younger. And was surrounded by gorgeous girls. My Mom didn't really wear makeup. So I was on my own there. My hair has always been a "Thorn in My Side." That sort of thing.

But as I've gotten older, I've really begun to enjoy these things much more. A lot of this probably has something to do with this lady, and this lady. Oh, and because I've become a performer now. And it's my "job" to dress up, and look nice.

Well, as much as I love all these things, in the "Heat of Summer," I'm not a fan! Not at all! In fact, for the last few weeks, I've been sporting leggings, and some sort of long and flowy tank top. Oh, and those ballet flats. My hair is up and out of my face. Makeup is at a bare minimum.

But I don't think it's a "Bad Thing." Heck no! It leaves more time to enjoy life. And I feel so much "lighter." Heck, I'm pretty sure, my skin and hair are thanking me right now. But the one thing that I've always really gotten into, during the Summer, is nail color!

Yes, it's my one thing. It's definitely a "Summer Thing." I paint my nails 2-3 times a week. I probably buy 4 nail polishes a week! It's so addictive. Because it's my way of adding color, to my outfit. And honestly, painted nails are s cute!

Well, in the Summer I usually gravitate towards 2 colors. White or Essie's Turks & Caicos. I know! But they remind me of Summer. I sport the white for 3 or 4 weeks. Then add that gorgeous turquoise color for a week or so.

Last week, My Bestie needed to make a quick run to the store. She was all out of chocolate! And we all know what happens when Hills doesn't have chocolate! :) So we headed to a local CVS. She went looking for candy, and ice cream. I got caught up by this gorgeous display of L'Oreal nail polish!

And what in the world did I find? Some of the most gorgeous colors! Colors that all the "expensive brands" are carrying right now. I quickly picked 4, got my favorite magazines, and a couple of cards. Yes, I know! But it was some last minute stuff that I needed, before we left on vacation. :)



This gorgeous color is called, "Club Prive." This incredibly creamy, aqua color. Immediately, I was in LOVE!!! When we got back, I realized I'd forgotten Turks & Caicos at home. Good thing I picked this baby up!

2 things you should know. Maybe 3. This color is almost exactly the same as Essie's Turks & Caicos. But it only cost $5! It's very similar to China Glaze's For Audrey. Except For Audrey is a bit more blue. Unless you're like me, you probably wouldn't notice this. Oh, and the consistency of the polish, is AMAZING!!!

So we've been on the water, and the beach, for days now! My nails have been painted since last Friday. No base coat. No top coat. This polish is amazing!!! It might just be my new Summertime favorite! :) I can't wait to get back, to try my other 3 colors!!! ♥

Wise Owl Tote Bag: Week 2

Let the crocheting begin!!! We're finally going to start our bags this week. I know! Can I be completely honest with you? I've been a little busy. And this morning, I woke up in a cold sweat. You see, we're traveling. And I thought I left my yarn at home...

Yes, I rushed out of bed, and searched my bag. Yes!!! I remembered my supplies. I even got to talk to Miss Cari this morning. Who will be spending the day with her Dad. In the park. And she is so excited to start her Wide Owl Tote Bag! So am I. :)




This week's goal is going to be, working Rows 1-20 of the bag. At the end of this week, we'll all have an idea, of how large our bags are going to be. Remember, if you have any questions, please leave Cari or I a comment. Or send me an e-mail at SweetNightingaleSing (at) gmail (dot) com.

Have a great week crocheting! And I can't wait until next week! We're going on vacation this week, so I might actually work ahead. :) It's going to be a long flight. ♥

Wise Owl Tote Bag: Week 1

Welcome Back Crocheters!!! Cari and I are so excited to get this "Crochet Along" started. I've gotten tons and tons of e-mails. So I am happy to say, this is already a HUGE success!!! And if you still want to join, we'd LOVE to have you! Just leave Cari or I a comment. Or send me an e-mail at SweetNightingaleSing (at) gmail (dot) com.



This week is going to be fairly easy. You need to print out this pattern, and buy the supplies. That's it! Easy as can be. :) That's how I like to start projects.

For me, the most difficult thing about starting a projecting, is buying he supplies. I know! You will need 1 skein of yarn for the body of the owl. I'm thinking that dusty purple color that Red Heart makes. And a decent amount, less than a skein, of a different color for the inner eyes and heart. I'll probably go with Aran. Funny how that's the only name I remember. But recently, I've been working on lots of dolls. :)

You will also need a small amount of another color for the outer eyes. I'm going with a dusty green. And a small amount of orange for the beak. For these 2 colors, I'd say you could use scraps. At least that's what I'm going to do. I have A LOT of scraps that need to be used up!

Come back next Sunday, and we'll actually get started on our bags. But I figured with all that we have going on during Summer, some of us might need the week to prepare. Have a wonderful week! ♥

Little K and Summertime Fun!!!

Little K has got to be the funniest 6 year old I know! We're in Florida. And the first thing she said, when she got here was, "Can we look at some blogs?" Her sister was ready to hit the beach. Have some fun on the beach. But Little K, was ready to read some blogs. Because in her words, "I NEED some ideas for Summer!"



Did you say Slurpee? I have to admit, that when our "Little Nieces" lived with us, I spoiled them a bit. Especially Little K. Mostly because her sister was in school. And she had to hangout with me. What did we do? At least twice a week, we'd share a Slurpee. :)

So 2 weeks ago, when I saw this picture...I had to do some digging. That's when I found this recipe. I knew Little K would adore a Kool Aid Slurpee. Girl has been here 2 days. And we've already made these 4 times!



This little beauty, you probably recognize it from the Home Depot commercials. Well, when this guy saw it, back in May, he wanted to make it for Little K. Doesn't it look fun? At this point, construction is done. All that needs to be completed is, painting it. And filling it up with sand. Perfect for our sand loving niece. At least we thought.



But Little K had another idea. She's been carrying around a sales flyer from Big Lots. For months! It's dated sometime in February. Why? Because Little K wants this "Sand and Water Table."And she was ready to tell her Uncle all about it! Forget that he's spent all this time, making her a sandbox. She wants this $20 toy...

So we spent 3 hours reading blogs. Looking at pictures. And "Window Shopping." All while enjoying our Slurpees. And snacking on some fresh fruit. All of this, makes me just want to spend a month, hanging out with Little K. She is a firecracker. All by herself! Looks like our Summer is going to be full of fun! ♥

Crochet Along: Wise Owl Tote Bag

Cari and I had this idea. You see, Cari is getting ready to start 8th grade this year. And wanted to make something fun for school. I know! It's the beginning of July. Still Summer in my book. But this should be fun.

Right now, Miss Cari is in Mexico. Studying her Folklorico dancing. Don't let that get between a girl, her goal, and some crochet fun! We're going to start our little "Crochet Along." Next Sunday. And it should be a blast! So what are we making? Redheart's Wise Owl Tote Bag.



We're going to give plenty of time to complete this project. Being that it's Summer. Many of us have planned trips. And well, we just want to work at a fairly relaxing pace.

If you are interested, please leave Cari or I a comment. Or e-mail me at SweetNightingaleSing (at) gmail (dot) com. Remember, this is meant to be something fun and enjoyable. And hopefully, at the end of the "Crochet Along," we'll have something fun to be proud of! Hope to see you Sunday! ♥