Archive for the 'Iz' Category

Tiny Dancer

Santa

Santa

Visiting our local photo studio to get our photo taken with Santa is 1,000,000 times better than going to the mall.  The $15 we donated for the photos (coming later this week) was then donated to our local food bank.

Meanwhile, Izzy has been practicing her list for Santa, it’s just a few things, which he kindly repeated loudly for us to hear (although we’ve known all along what she’d like).  After we left, she gasped, realizing she left something really, really important off her list, the bath beads.  Don’t worry, Santa knows exactly what you’d like without even saying it.

Swing

Swing

A New Princess Dress

Iz and the Red Hippo Dress

Iz doesn’t sit still.  At all.  When she took her first steps (at 18 mos mind you), she didn’t walk, she RAN.  I’d like to say that we take leisurely strolls side-by-side, but no, I walk quickly to keep after her.  And as she gets older, I try hard to let her walk on her own, but still, my heart beats a bit faster, knowing that she’s fine, but I’m not right next to her.  She’s still movin’ with a purpose, and couldn’t stop for a second to get a good photo.

Iz and the Red Hippo Dress

She’s been very interested in princesses.  Of course, who can resist all that’s supposed to mean?  Think of the clothes, the bling, the clothes, the shoes, the nail polish, the clothes.  We are not fans of the typical Disney Princesses.  I’m sure they are all wonderful girls, but they are always in distress.  I mean, WHAT’S UP WITH THAT? **There are princess movies that do not involve being rescued: NausicaaKiki’s Delivery Service. and so many more.

Iz and the Red Hippo Dress

We want Iz to know that she is a princess.  One who can make her own decisions,  one who is strong enough to take care of herself and not have to be rescued.  I don’t think there is anything glamorous in being a damsel in distress. So, dear sweet Princess Iz, here’s your fabulous Royal Dress, and you can rule the world in it.  And wear your fabulous shoes and great rainbow tights.

Iz and the Red Hippo Dress

I bought the pattern from the lovely SugarCityJournal.  Amazing clothes they are making.

It’s a great pattern, easy to understand and very quick.  I made the dress 2 sizes too big!  Crazy, but I love it so much, I want her to have it for years.  I think the styling details are to-die-for.  I love the bias tape finish on the neck and sleeves.  I really, really , really like the gathered yoke and bell sleeves.  (trick – use dental floss to make your gathers)

We’ll be making a few more of these, and work our way through the stash.

Iz and the Red Hippo Dress

“ta-da”

Dancing Queen

Izzy 4.0 and a Birthday Quiche

Iz 4.0

Iz 4.0

It was pretty exciting.  Surrounded by family and friends, making, then eating really yummy food, opening thoughtful and exciting gifts.  It was a busy day.  But so much fun.

It Takes A Lot Of Practice To Blow Out Candles

Flourless chocolate cupcakes.  Yes, let me repeat that FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES. Yum.  Oh, and the candles.  Totally cute, she blew and blew and blew, then finally aimed at the candles.

We Love Quiche

It was a special day.  Amazing for me too.  I can’t believe Izzy is 4 years old!  I mean, how did that happen?  Wasn’t it just a few days ago we were in the birthing center?  It’s been amazing to watch Izzy grow up to 4.  She’s an incredible human being, my very best friend, and totally inspires me.  I am continually amazed at her thoughts, stories and even jokes.

We have a lot of fun together.  Izzy and I made the above quiche.  You see we LOVE quiche.  (In case you weren’t sure.).

  • Izzy’s Birthday Quiche:
  • Pie shell  – room temperature(I sometimes make them from scratch, but this one was ready made from the store, it’s ok, you can do that.)
  • 6 eggs (1 separated, keep the whites in a separate bowl)
  • Tomatoes  – we used 2/3 pint of grape tomatoes – halved or sliced
  • Fresh Basil – 2-3 springs, de-stemmed and finely chopped
  • 1-2 cups grated cheese, we used cheddar, but mozarella would be yummy too!
  • 8oz or 1 cup heavy whipping cream – you could use any milk product here, non fat, low fat, half & half.  I like whipping cream, it makes the quiche fluffy!
  • Salt & Pepper

These are great served hot, warm, room temp or cold.  ENJOY!

Preheat oven to 350ºF.

I use a 10″ tart pan for a 9″ pie crust.  It fits, and there is no pastry shell waste.  Smooth pie shell into tart/pie pan.

Pour egg white in, paint (we use a brush, but I’ve used my fingers in a pinch) the entire pastry shell with the egg white. (this is so it doesn’t turn to mush once you pour the egg mixture in)

Place tomatoes in first.  I like pretty layers, and so does Iz  – see above.

Then sprinkle the chopped basil evenly over the tomatoes.

Sprinkle the grated cheese even over entire quiche.

In a separate bowl, mix all the eggs together, pour in the cream, mix well, add pepper and salt.

Pour well mixed mixture over quiche.

Place in the center of your oven.  Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the center doesn’t wiggle like jelly.

Working on…

A New Hat

Iz needed a new hat, so I found a bag of brown/red yarn at Value Village, threw in some eyelash yarn and knit her up this quick little hat.  I used the Clover pom pom maker.  Let me tell you, it is my favorite pom pom maker OF ALL TIME.  So quick, so easy, doesn’t fall apart, it’s a dream.  I’ve made pom poms, just to have them.

I don’t know about you, but I have become a fan of Clover, BIG TIME. You can shop on their US site if the Japanese site is tough (but so worth clicking around).

WIP

Birds. Yep, on the brain, like everyone else.  You’ve seen them all I’m sure.  I’m working on my own little pattern, a few variations.  Thinking about a possible class at LuckyStitches when it opens in Seattle.  These are so quick and take just minutes to cut out, sew and stuff.  Next step – off to Value Village to find the fabrics for my little flock.

I found these at Value Village too.

Thread

I’m going to be using them for the ornaments for the Ornament Swap.

Thread

I can’t believe Thanksgiving is next week.  Why is there so much Christmas stuff in the stores already!  I know why, I just wish those retailers wouldn’t do it.  It makes me so crazy, I’m not buying anything this Christmas, I’m making it all from found stuff.  So there.

The Haircut Song

The before:
TheFirstHaircut1

The after:
TheFirstHaircut16

And all the in between can be seen on Flickr.

On the way, we asked her how she’d like to get her hair cut.  She said just the back, but not the ears.  She was really worried that her ears would get cut off too.  After explaining that ears don’t get cut during a haircut, she was convinced and totally excited.  She loves her new do.

I leave you with a little haircut fun:

My Little Butterfly

Friday night was delightful.  When Iz woke up Friday morning I told her it was Halloween, and after school, she could put on her costume and we’d go Treating, so she declared during morning circle that today, after school Halloween starts!

Dressed in a lovely butterfly costume, we headed to Columbia City, where the lovely local shops were handing out candy.  At Retroactive Kids, Bellen Drake was photographing the kids.  I just love the shots, and I can’t wait to see them.  You can see more of her beautiful work on her web site.  (I wonder if they’ll be doing this for Christmas?  hmmm)

Costume Photoshoot

Treatin'

Sneakin' Candy in the Backseat

Iz was so delighted, she munched on a few pieces in the back seat while we left Columbia City and headed for West Seattle.

Little Butterfly

Treatin'

We had a sweet evening, with not a lot of sugar consumption.  The Halloween Monster (she’s friendly, don’t worry), did come last night and took some of the candy.  We leave her some of the treats so we can trick -or-treat next year.  The rest will be rationed off, and probably forgotten about in a few days.

You Made A Left Turn

It’s amazing what comes out the mouths of babes sometimes.  I was floored the other day when we were driving and Iz said, “Mom, you are making a left turn.”

Speechless, that’s what I was!  We’ve been talking left and right for as long as I can remember and she’s not used Left or Right for as long as I can tell.  Then, driving, she blew me away.

I am loving this age.  Sure the emotional stuff can be a little much (one more bout of screaming at me and I might just pass out)

Thoughtfulz

The grasping of things we’ve been talking about for a while, and even the new stuff, is just so freakin’ amazing.  Today was spider day at school.  They had a giant web up with plastic spiders, then another family brought in live spiders they caught from their yard in jars.  The kids went outside and found natural elements for their habitat and filled the jars, and made lovely homes for the spiders.  We talked about the spiders during book time, for a long time.  I just love all the soaking up of everything.  I love that Iz can put into words what she’s experiencing.




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