Sweet Sixteen

Remember this?

Lu, age 9

Me too. Feels like yesterday.  That was Lu's first birthday on this blog. Today, my sweet girl is sixteen. 

Happy birthday, baby!

Swing Time.

Always my favorite.

Happy Birthday, Fred Astaire

They can't take that away from me..

Happy Birthday, Ella Fitzgerald



pssst.... Sorry I've been a bad, absent blogger!
I started my grad class a couple of weeks ago and
last week was Prom!
 (I'll have decor pictures to share this weekend,
but here's one of me and a couple of kiddos)

That blobby design in the middle of my dress is way more
distracting in a photo than it was in person! (the design carries
around the hem and sides too, which helps).

Back soon with more interesting bits hopefully!

For Elvis: Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

I come by my celebrity boyfriend fetish naturally.
My mom called dibs on this handsome devil a LONG time ago.

Today is Elvis' birthday. AND...this weekend I was playing around with a cupcake recipe and realized my final creation was perfect for the occasion.

Behold the Banana Cupcake with Peanut Butter Frosting:

Pretty.  It's also really tasty, more of a "muffiny" cake than a "cake" cake, but still pretty nummy.  The recipe follows, a combination of my Super Special Vanilla to End All Vanilla Cupcakes cupcake recipe and a Banana Cupcake recipe I found online.  (Well, technically, the banana was the only thing I really took from that recipe.  The rest I ad-libbed.  I fly by the seat of my pants like that. When I wear pants.)

This is what Elvis would look like eating this cupcake.

Banana Cupcakes
Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cup flour 
• 1-1/2 tsp baking powder 
• 1/2 tsp baking soda 
• 1/2 tsp salt 
• 1 stick butter, room temperature 
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar 
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
• 2 eggs 
• 1 T vanilla 
• 1/3 cup sour cream 
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (approx 3 bananas)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Combine sugars, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.
3. Add stick of butter and mix on medium speed.  (I use a hand mixer).  The texture will be "crumbly".
4. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, sour cream, oil and vanilla.
5. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and beat on medium speed until just combined. Don't overmix!
6.  Add the mashed banana and stir to combine (you could mix again, but be careful not to overmix. You'll just create air pockets!)
7. Fill cupcake liners just over 1/2 full.
8. Bake in 350 F oven.  Test at 14 minutes with a toothpick (they are done when the toothpick comes out clean).  Don't overbake!  They should not be a golden brown on top. They'll be too dry (unless you like a dry cupcake).  If the toothpick still has wet batter, test again in 2 minutes.
9. Remove cupcakes to a wire rack to cool. 

Peanut  Butter Frosting
Ingredients: 

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1-1/2 sticks butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1-2 cups  powdered (confectioner's) sugar
• 1/3 cup heavy cream

Directions:
Combine the first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl and mix on medium until creamy.   Add in the heavy cream and beat on high until light and fluffy.

My mom wishes that mirror was her face. Just sayin.

I used a 1M tip to pipe the frosting in a pretty swirl, and sprinkled a little clear sugar glitter over the tops because I like swag, even on my cupcakes.

Keep these babies in the fridge, the icing is butter and cream-laden.  And also totally lickable.

Just like Elvis.

My mom wishes she was on the receiving end of this smolder.

Happy Birthday to the King!

18.

Eighteen years ago today I met one of my two favorite people on the planet.

G, 1 week

He used to stare at me like that, like he was puzzled by my very existence and if he looked deep enough, long enough, he might just figure this strange world out. 

I was content to just stare back.

When he was a baby, he never cried. He was mostly content to watch me watching him, and listen to my voice. I used to sing 'A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes' as I rocked him to sleep.

As a toddler, his favorite book was Green Eggs and Ham.

When he went to school, he always looked after the smallest kid on the playground, took care that no one was left out.

He's funny.  We spend a lot of time laughing around here, much of it inappropriate. 

He loves Tom Hanks.

His favorite movie is Black Hawk Down.

He would probably actually go to prom if Hayley Williams from Paramore would consent to be his date. 

My boy wants to be a soldier.  A friend of mine asked this weekend when it was he started talking about this (the military), and I said, truthfully, "When he was four."

Wherever life leads him, I have faith he's smart enough and strong enough to make a difference and find success.  I might have slightly different goals for he and Lu than most parents; I want them to be happy, and I want them to go out in the world and see what's waiting just around the corner, to not let fear hold them back.  After that, it's cake. 

We've come a long way, G and I and Lu.  I wouldn't trade a single second of it. 

Love you, baby. Happy birthday. 

My fellas.

When I was 6, this was my favorite movie.

I spent many a day learning to pick a lock. 

 Because I was going to be in a

gang with these two.

I still kinda wish I was in a

 gang with these two. 

(and I can still pick a lock)

Happy Birthday, Mr. Redford.

2 Fab Dames, 1 Birth Day

Barbara Stanwyck

July 16, 1907 - January 20, 1990

“She has played five gun molls, two burlesque queens,
half a dozen adulteresses and twice as many murderers.
When she was good, she was very, very good.
And when she was bad, she was terrific.”   -Walter Matthau

Ginger Rogers

July 16, 1911 - April 25, 1995

“After all, Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. 

She just did it backwards and in high heels.”  - Ann Richards

Hey Han Solo, you're 70 today!

"I'm Han Solo, captain of the Millenium Falcon."

(Or... Indy. Whatever.)

Happy Birthday, dude.

Birthday Girl

She has the biggest imagination

 the biggest heart 

the biggest smile.

 (and sometimes the biggest attitude.

but we love her anyway.)

She thinks I'm the goofiest mother ever.

I think she's the best girl I've ever met.

She's 15.

Happy birthday, baby.

 

1937 Friendship Quilt

I won an ebay auction a couple of weeks ago, for a friendship quilt dated New Year's, 1937.  The date is pretty precise, because the quilt was signed with embroidered sentiments and signatures.

I love everything about this quilt.  I love the colors, the feedsack fabrics, the simple patchwork.  But it's the variety of embroidered signatures, names and places that makes me very happy.  What a sweet memento.  I'm sad that no family wanted to keep this treasure, but happy that I can spruce it up and set it out for a whole new family & generation to enjoy.

It does need some repairs, but most of that is handstitching several unsewn seams, not repairing holes.  Simple handwork while I'm watching Christmas movies on my holiday break!  It has been stored in a cedar chest and is really pretty pristine for its age.  I'm hoping a soak in the tub and careful drying (after it's repaired) and it will be ready to hang over a nice quilt rack.  Which I don't have yet.  Something to add to my flea market list!

In other news...it's the boy's birthday today.  My handsome boy is 17.  How time flies...

Happy birthday to my 'little' comedian (he's about 6'3, so not so little anymore).

You can see the unwrapping of the gift involved lots of fur help.  Last night I laughed so hard at something he did (unintentional slapstick), I honestly thought I was going to wet myself.  My side ached for a good hour.

Love you G.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm spending this lovely Thanksgiving morning in a time-honored way -- making carb-loaded casseroles and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Inicidentally, it's also my BIRTHDAY!  

Yes.  I'm a Turkey.

musings...mechanical vs. computerized

So, do you buy your own birthday gifts? It's sort of my favorite part of the year, buying my own birthday and Christmas gifts. I plot and plan and shop all year long. Today the mailman (woman, thankfully) honked as I was getting out of the shower, so I could run out in my bathrobe (and wet hair) and sign for this beautiful, SPECTACULAR birthday gift (from me, to me):



Yellow rose-cut diamond in sterling silver and gold:


The ring was handcrafted by 2TrickPony on Etsy, and Rachel was FABULOUS to deal with. Love her shop mucho!

Mailwoman might have also dropped off these, but that would make my birthday gift slightly over budget. (Who am I gonna tell though? Me? Shhh. I'm not paying attention.)



Then there's the issue of Christmas gift, which hasn't arrived but WAS paid for with birthday money from my parents (and a bit thrown in from me. Again.) It's this beauty:


Yes, a mechanical 1978 Bernina 830. Be still my heart.

I seem to be on a mechanical sewing machine kick, since earlier this year I bought a Singer 221 Featherweight. I find I'm craving more simplicity and am moving toward a "back to basics" mindset.

Is that old age? ;) Maybe it's wisdom. In any case, I don't find computerized everything is really doing it for me, and I fear the throwaway mentality that is taking over our universe (sewing universe included). Good grief, I've had to have a new iron every year or two it seems! Ditto toasters, computers, phones (land line and cell), printer, etc etc etc. What happened to craftsmanship that lasts and lasts?

Do you know I have a late 1950s hand mixer (turquoise, love!) that is still going strong? I love that thing and I search to this day for a replacement/backup in case she ever does die on me. My car is almost 6 years old and I just paid it off about a year ago, yet...its clanking and clinking and making an awful noise right now. Do I really want to fork over money on a new one that will likely need replacing in 5 years? Uh, no.

I am curious...how many of you currently sew on a mechanical sewing machine versus a computerized one? Or maybe you have both, but prefer/love your mechanical (or computerized) for ______ reason(s)?

I have been saving into my penny fund for this Bernina 830 and watching ebay and Craigslist for a gem, knowing my parents would give me moolah for my birthday this year to make up the difference. I'm pretty darn excited for it to get here so I can start playing!

I'll have to compile our mechanical versus computerized responses/thoughts and do another post later, when she gets here and I have more photos!

Off to work on my HP skirt! (Yes, I've decided to perservere. Especially since I now have new Colette patterns to ogle too.)

shenanigans.

I'm pretty sure this one sums it up nicely enough:
Last night to celebrate, my sister (you know, of coffee filter hat fame) & Lu & I ate here:


and then this is about 30 minutes before we were completely enraptured for 3 solid hours (with one 15 minute intermission):


Best time ever!!

Hey, did I mention I'm...

countdown.

Why yes, I do look fabulous for my age.
Thanks for noticing. ;)

Saturday plans...Harry Potter 7 with my girl Lu, and Olive Garden. Yum.

(Sewing and Nano may make an appearance too.)

Have a good weekend!

13.

Oh my gosh. Where DOES the time go???

Baby Lu, 9 months

*still my baby* Lu, 13.
today.

Happy Birthday baby girl!

fifteen.

Seems crazy to think that this tiny boy is now in high school.

Where did the time go?? Fifteen years ago tonight I met you for the first time, and life as I knew it would never be the same.

Probably the only person on the planet who loves you as much as me, is this one.


I would normally consider this picture of me (no makeup, hot, tired, long day hiking in the Arizona desert) unfit for blog viewing. But since you're right there beside me, I think its rather perfect.

Happy Birthday, boy of mine!

aged.

If you do, it's because I'm making this one from Ree! I make a mean Texas Sheet Cake (a near clone of Ree's), and I'm gonna try out her recipe today. Because...

it's my birthday!!

Say...I look pretty good for my age.

Famous Last Words
My Chemical Romance
link via youtube