My new thing

Smoothies are my new thing. Green smoothies, to be exact.

The thing is, I'm a lazy eater. If I'm hungry (which is most of the time), I'll grab whatever is easiest (and tastiest) and move right along. Trouble is, what is easy isn't always what's healthy. Unless Cadbury's Fruit and Nut is healthy...

So, I heard about the Green Smoothie Challenge here. Now, I'm not actually following the challenge properly, I've been managing to incorporate a smoothie into my day pretty much every day for the last 2 weeks. I think I'd probably notice more benefit if I did the cutting out sugar and drinking more water and smoothie (I'm consuming about 8 fl oz at the moment).

If memory serves, this little concoction was 2 handfuls of spinach, 1.5 cups water, .5 cup orange juice, 1 cup frozen mango/melon/peach blend, 1 cup blueberries, 2 kiwi and 1 tbsp honey.

I gotta tell ya, though, it's good. It's not hard, doesn't take long and I've been making enough for at least one glass for myself and some for the kids. Shockingly, they've liked most concoctions. I haven't made a big deal about them having any - my thinking is if they like it, more goodness for them and if they don't, more snack for me. So it's all good.

I don't yet own a blender (though Amazon should be rectifying the situation in a few days), so I use my food processor. Top tip if you don't have the blender action: puree your greens (usually spinach or kale) first, then add some water to "liquidize" it, then add your fruit. Makes for a smoother beverage.

Another good site for smoothie info is here. Happy blending, friends!

Oh, help

So. I must knit this. For myself. Now (almost). Gorgeous, no?

So. Here is the conundrum: do I use this fabulously expensive yarn in the Baltic (think seaside, star-filled sky),

the Tart, which almost literally made me drool,
or the Jade, my favorite stone and color, and is just too lovely for words?

I cannot make this decision on my own; it's just too much for me. Help me, dear one, if you can!

Kids need to play

Not that anyone needed to tell them that

Busy hands

They haven't made light work, but they've gotten some things accomplished, like....

...A sweet zippered pouch full of hair things for a sweet 8-year-old's birthday.

I cut the skirt off of this to make a simple-yet-funky skirt for Abi. She continues to demand "funky" clothes.

A little something for my Anna-Banana.

The Letter Clutch...

...with room for paper, envelopes and stamps.

and

Some crocheted hair ties

Got the idea for these here.

Word of the Day

Oc-to-poop (v/n): What happens when your sweet infant son doesn't poop for a day, then makes up for it by filling his diaper with such a vast, soupy mess that upon being changed, manages to get it on all flailing limbs, much like an octopus. As a verb, usually accompanied by screeching, harpie-like sound emitted by parental figure and resulting in bath and protracted clean up. As a noun, could be considered akin to the octopus' method of self-defense.
Octopoop.
Say it with me.
Octopoop.

Randomness

Nigella Lawson's Chocolate Cloud Cake is a very acceptable grown-up's birthday cake. So you know.

Eleanor has truly been graced with her mother's ability to sleep absolutely anywhere.

We are all enjoying watching a new generation of baby robins grow up in our backyard. So cool.

There's been some sewing, some knitting and some cooking going on lately - just not a lot of photos. I'm hoping to fix that soon...

For Libby

If she hasn't received it by now, she'll be getting it soon, so I don't think it'll spoil anything. As requested, the Miss Madeline, for the Miss Libby.

As the fabric was a bit thin, I lined this one, which gives it a touch of added warmth, and some extra drape. Pretty easy, actually.
I hope you enjoy it, Libby - it should serve you well!

Daredevil

The first time I saw her do this, I nearly messed myself. Truly.

Littles Lovin'

This is my big sister, Eleanor.

She's mostly all right, though she kisses me an awful lot.

She's kinda loud, too.

She does make some pretty funny faces, though.

Oh, she's gone again. Never mind.

The Girly Skirt

Just in time for warm weather.

Made from Grandmom's stash, and lined with the same.

A bit of pink bias tape to finish it all off.

A wrestling match with Daddy, just to give it a test run.

I think it passed.