the MADE Pool/beach robe

One of my favorite sewing blogs is MADE. I love the patterns and DIY ideas that Dana shares with her readers. I have already made some pants and shorts (like these) for my nephew, and when she came out with this pattern earlier this week, I was beside myself with excitement. Really.

Being as frugal as I am ( okay, I admit..the cheapskate that I am), I hemmed and hawed over the purchase of the pattern for a couple days. Even though I reallllly wanted to make a pool robe, I tried to reason with myself that I might just find a just-as-good FREE pattern somewhere in blogland. I was wrong. None of the other pool robes were even close to being as cute ( and easy looking) to make. So, I bit the bullet and shelled out the $8 ( after receiving the pattern and instructions, I have to laugh at myself...the pattern is WELL worth the purchase price, and makes a variety of sizes) for the pattern. Within minutes it was in my in-box, ready to be printed, taped together and cut out. And may I just add, her instructions are idiot-proof.

Seriously...

Idiot. Proof.

I had an orange bath towel from Target that I scored for $4 on sale, earlier in the week just in case, you know...I actually bought the pattern at some point.

So, here's my first attempt at a 3T-4T beach/pool robe.

Pretty stinkin' cute, if you ask me.

To get your own beach robe pattern, click here.

Spanglish Sandwich

One of my all-time favorite actors is Adam Sandler..

But what might surprise you, is my favorite movie of his is actually Spanglish.

Don't get me wrong, I love Chuck and Larry, Big Daddy and the movie that made me fall in love with him, Billy Madison...but Spanglish..it's just one of those movies where I want to pour a glass of wine, fix a sandwich and curl up on the couch with my sunshine.

The sandwich of choice?

The Spanglish.

(photo from thekitchn.com)

Check it.

Looks delish, right?

I recently found a link to the recipe on pinterest which linked back to thekitchn.com and the recipe for the sandwich that John made Flor during the movie. And without further adieu, I must share this with you because it is so freakin' good!

Spanglish Sandwich

from Thomas Keller

makes 1 sandwich

3-4 slices of bacon

2 slices of Monterey Jack cheese

2 slices of toasted rustic country loaf (pain de campagne)

1 tbsp of mayo

4 tomato slices

2 leaves of butter lettuce (yes, it's called butter lettuce)

1 teaspoon butter

1 egg

Preparation:

1. Cook the bacon until crisp, drain on paper towels

2. Place slices of cheese on one side of toasted bread. Place in toaster oven or under broiler to melt.

3. Spread mayo on other slice of bread top with bacon, sliced tomato, and lettuce

4. On non-stick skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Fry egg, turning over briefly when the bottom is set (keep yolk runny)

5. Slide finished egg on top of lettuce, top with other slice of bread (cheese-side down genius)

6. Place sandwich on plate and slice in half, letting yolk run down sandwich

From the 25th floor

With so many things to see from our birds eye view, I decided that each Friday I will write a post titled "from the 25th floor" and  blog about something that we witnessed from the balcony  or windows of our 25th floor hi-rise apartment. I promise to try not to make anyone who is afraid of heights get sick (:

Starting off my Friday series of "from the 25th floor", I bring you a photo taken around 6:30 p.m. On a weeknight. There is a public green belt that runs along the outer gates of our compound, and every night between 6:00 and 8:00p, there can be anywhere from 50-100 people exercising out there. The first time I looked out and saw it, I thought it must be some sort of organized group walking class, but then when I looked further, it was just a bunch of individuals, couples and families exercising on their own accord. It's really nice to see so many people taking care of themselves, and it inspired me to do that same green belt walk with Sal each afternoon before it gets crowded with people.

Pin cushion

A couple weeks back, one of my sister-in-laws picked me up for a trip to the LA textile district (aka. "the mart) and had a hay-day. When I got in her car, she handed me a little gift...

Isn't this cute?

She made me a pin cushion attached to a jar. Genius! Now I have a place to store my random safety pins, sewing machine needles and runaway bobbins.

I *heart* homemade gifts from the heart.

Thank you, CZ!

letters from Dublin

An e-mail commentary from NZ on his most recent trip to Dublin, Ireland.

DAY ONE:

So I got to Ireland yesterday and it is pretty cool. The weather isn't the best but so far all the people I have met have been really nice.

I have some pictures, and of course commentary, on Dublin. I got onto the plane and the Irish Drinking stereotype was confirmed within about 5 minutes. I noticed that about every 3rd person to get on the plane had been to the duty free store and was carrying 3 to 5 bottles of

liquor.

Further proof came about 10 minutes after leaving the airport. As I was riding the bus through town to my hotel I spotted these two fine young men stumbling down the road, hammered drunk. Mind you it is only about 11:00am.

The one guy was pretty beat up. Looked like he picked a fight with a tougher man last night.

Maybe I shouldn’t be so judgmental? Maybe they were just in a rugby match, where they had gotten concussions that have made them dizzy and that drink is only an energy drink.

Maybe not.

After getting settled in his hotel, he ventured out into town to find some fish and chips....and this is the next email documentary received...

There was a big street fair going on that I walked into on my way down town. A combination Where’s Waldo world record attempt and street performance championship. What a combo.

Thousands of Waldo’s and weird people doing tricks, magic, sword swallowing, tricks with whips, riding tiny bicycles, you get the picture.I am guessing the idea for this even came up over a breakfast cocktail or five.

I went to a couple Irish pubs. Wholly crap, they know how to get down here. Drinking on a level seldom seen in the US, and dancing in every corner of the bar.

I met a bunch of people that were really nice. The moustache is going over really well here.

Especially with the really hammered people.

Every bar I went to was like this. Packed and noisy.

Singing and dancing.

They love “YMCA” here, also Shakira, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna.

-Nick

Cooking Class in Style

Our neighbor's tween daughter signed up for a cooking course this summer. As a surprise for her first day of class, her mother asked me to whip up an apron. I had free reign on the fabric choice, and wouldn't you know, my sister brought over her "remnants" today, and she had the perfect coordinates for miss A's apron.

miss A is a tad bit shorter and skinnier than I am ( yes, I am 33 years old and stand barely 5' tall) so I had to do a hybrid style of the two apron patterns I had on hand. For the skirt part of her apron, I followed instructions from Prudent Baby's fat Quarter apron, but added about 4 inches in length so that it would tie just under the bust instead of at the waist.

I made the top bib without a pattern, by cutting out a square to cover my bust,

then cutting it to make it a bit narrower and shorter. I also made rounded corners by tracing a CD and cutting around the edge. I edged the bib with small ric-rac before attaching it to the top hem of the skirt (which coordinated with the sash ties).

I made 2 sash ties by cutting out (2) 4"x 24" strips, sewing them and turning them inside out. The neckline ties were made by cutting (2) 2"x 24" strips and foll

owing the same guidelines as before.

And lastly, I added a little chic-style to it by ironing on a felt floral applique to the spot where the bib meets the neck tie..I found a ton of felt appliques on clearance at Joann's last week and snapped them up...25 cents a packet, and about 4-5 flowers came in each. SCORE!

She will be the most stylish little cook this side of the 101..looking forward to her reaction to her mom's sweet surprise!

Sobrino de Botin

NZ was recently in Madrid for work, and had the opportunity to eat at the oldest restaurant in the world. Word has it, Sobrino de Botin has been in business since 1725 and was even around when Napolean was invading the city...

And in his very own Nick-ish way, he had to write to tell me how good baby pig tastes...along with a visual. The roasted suckling pig is Sobrino de Botin's most notable dish.

Yes, sunshine, I'm jealous of your baby pig. It looked delish.

Phrase-tastic

With Father's day on the horizon, I sat down at my computer today to whip up a few cards for the dad's in our life. My silhouette die cutting machine has been a godsend, but I am also a sucker for anything I find at the Paper Source, and etsy.

Trolling for good phrases and funny dad-isms, I ran across a few of these and couldn't resist re-posting...

This would be perfect for my pop, an avid hunter, if I knew that he'd catch onto the Sir-Mix-Alot reference..But, I am not so sure that my dad, as hip as he is, knows the "I like Big Butts" song. He's more of a Jack Johnson or Donovan Frankenreiter fan..but rap?? Not so much. I can

hear him from here.."Put a 'c' on front of it, and there you go..C-R-A-P." Lol. Love him.

[visit www.bargainjack.com to buy this as a shirt]

I love you more than....what dad doesn't like bacon? I found this card here on etsy in The Inkling Shop.

[Macknz103 on etsy]

And my final favorite card....socks with sandals, or shall I clarify, socks with mandals...yes, my love goes deep, cause I'd even look past those fashion faux paux's to love my pop, socks and all.

DIY Matchbox city

As I do on almost every Sunday, I had my oldest nephew over for a few hours yesterday. We normally go for walks ( who am I kidding, he runs, I walk..), but with yesterday's indecisive weather, we stayed around the house. Nothing like getting stuck in a downpour with no umbrellas! We've done that before, and although it is a funny story to look back on, we were miserably wet by the time we got home..So, lesson learned..no more walks without umbrella when it looks like there is the slightest chance it might rain.

Armed with sidewalk chalk and matchbox cars, we drew ourselves a city...complete with what he deems "My-semite" instead of "Yosemite", full of trees and lakes. We also had a McDonalds, VONS, barbershop, gas station, school, houses and of course, a race track.

[The trees of "Mysemite"]

So, anyone looking for an idea to eat up some of your summer outside time, this little city on the sidewalk was at least an hour of outside entertainment, and easy to boot!

Best part..it washes off so a new city can be created the next day!