Technical Difficulties

Okay, I need some help, peeps.

I cannot upload more than one picture at a time to flickr and must use the basic uploader just to do that. I have downloaded the desktop unploader and tried that way, too. It acts like it wants to upload my pictures, but it just never gets it done. I'm sure there is some kind of simple fix for this, I just have no idea what it might be. Do I need to disable or remove something from my computer first? I'm using the latest version (7.0.1) of Firefox and running Windows 7. Any suggestions??

Also, is anyone else having issues with Google Reader? Some days it just eats all my unread posts. I use the nifty "Next" button up there on my bookmarks to jump from page to page. Do you use that? I madly love it. Except when it eats the fun stuff I want to be reading. Usually when this happens, I get the page that looks like this:

Then when I try to go to the next page, I get the one that says I've reached the end, even though I know there are many, many unread posts. Does this happen to anyone else? Am I going to have to give up and just scroll through in Reader like the old days?

I have tried to go back and scroll through Blogger finding posts I've missed when this happens, but haven't exactly had a lot of spare time to do that lately, so if I've neglected commenting on your blogs lately, I'm so sorry. It's not you... It's me. Really. Well, actually it's that damn next button.

WIP Wednesday, vol 9

Did anyone else have to go back to last weeks WIP post to figure out what to write today?

I seem to be completely unable to recall any sewing this week, but I know some happened...

Finishes: ummm, no.

In Progress:

Kaleidoscope is backed and basted. I just realized that I never showed you the back yet, so I guess you'll have to wait till she's all done now. 

Here are my fabrics for my Christmas Tree skirt from the Sew, Mama, Sew Holiday Sew-Along. I actually swapped out the red stocking fabric for a red dotty fabric but didn't get a picture  yet. I have all the pieces cut and have three of seven large stars sewn.

 

 I've also gotten the urge to make some frame pouches thanks to my friend Rebecca Lynne and have ordered my supplies and am impatiently awaiting their arrival.

Dead Simple QAL...I've finally ordered the fabric for this, so does that count for progress?

Here's a snapshot of what has been taking me away from the sewing machine...

and my co-pilot...

It's a rough life, isn't it?

Massaged Kale Salad

No, I'm not a food stylist, why do you ask??

OK, I'm going to make this short...Try this salad. 

Seriously. Yes, it sounds weird, but it doesn't taste weird.  My kids are not picky eaters, but I was pretty sure I would be pushing it a little to get them to finish their servings of this salad. Oh, was I wrong...I've made it three times now and each time my two year old has eaten two helpings.

I pinned this recipe a few weeks ago after reading Melanie rave about it.  Then, just a few days later, my friend Debbie posted about another version, so I knew it was time to try it.  The first time I made it, I basically followed Melanie's recipe. By "basically" I mean that I used the same ingredients, but I can't really be bothered by measuring things out when I'm making a salad.

Then I decided to combine Melanie's recipe with the one Debbie linked to from Food Network star Aarti Sequeira and came up with one that we love. So here's what I do:

For the dressing: Whisk together the juice of one lemon, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 Tb honey and some black pepper.

For the salad: Trim the tough stalks from a bunch of kale, then chop into small pieces. Put the kale in a large bowl and add a generous 1/4 tsp salt. Now massage that kale!! Really, I just kind of squish it and squeeze it for about a minute or so. This is supposed to tenderize the leaves a bit so they aren't as tough. And it can be a good stress reliever.  To the kale, add some finely diced onion, apple, craisins, sunflower seeds or pepitas, and feta cheese. Toss with the dressing and you're ready to go! 

**At my house, I've found that it is easier for my kids to eat salads (and eat more of them) if everything is cut into pretty small pieces. It may not look as attractive as having pretty rings of onion and wedges of tomato, but it's much easier for little ones to maneuver to their mouths. Sometimes I even give them a spoon!

And always remember...

Available here

Check out what other Pinners are checking off their boards at Amanda's Pin-Did Challenge...

{I said I was going to make this short, but it really didn't turn out that way, did it??}


ETA:: (and make it even longer)
The aforementioned Debbie from A Quilter's Table regularly posts recipes/foodie talk on Tuesdays with her "Tuesdays at the Table" series, which she now has turned into a linky party. So hop on over there and check out her Butternut Squash Soup and see what everyone else is cooking up as well!

Update!

Y'all, I feel awful!! 

I completely forgot to put my friend Kelli's giveaway on the list!! Kelli blogs at Small Town Stitcher and is so sweet and talented! Though we haven't known each other for too long I'm sure we are going to be great friends.

She is actually having TWO giveaways to celebrate her first year of blogging. Kelli is giving away a charm pack of It's a Hoot by Momo for Moda and a gift certificate to Connecting Threads.

So please hop on over to Small Town Stitcher and help her celebrate! And I just checked and Kelli is at 99 followers!!

Okay, have a great weekend! Back to the field I go...

Don't Hate Me Because I'm...

Lucky!!

Were you expecting me to say beautiful? Haha, no. Was that off a commercial or something? 

Anyway...I have been so lucky the past few weeks and have had my little name drawn three times in various giveaways.  How fun! I am completely not a lucky person, but for some reason the stars really aligned this month!

Remember my post about the random things I've made for my kitchen and linked up to the Blogger's Dinner Party? Well, the prize for that month was a Hexagon Sewing Kit from Sew Sara and it arrived in my mailbox just the other day.

How fun is that? 50 hexagon templates and squares all cut and ready to go. Now I just have to figure out what to do with them!

Then, imagine my surprise when I got an email from Kate telling me that I had won one of the prizes for the first link-up for 100 Quilts for Kids. Seriously? My fellow Hoosier, Debra of Easily Distracted Debra donated a fabulous prize....

Munki Munki pajamas...

Elephants!

And Heather Ross's book Weekend Sewing. I'm so excited to look through the book and start making something! Well, it will probably have to wait a while, but I can still look. Has anyone of you made something from this book?

And I'm seriously not trying to rub it in here, but yesterday I found out that I was one of the winners in  Svetlana's giveaway over at Sotak Handmade. I won a super cool shoulder bag made by Svetlana. Have you seen the amazing stuff she makes? I feel like I am always pinning or favorite-ing her pictures.

Ok, so enough about that. Since good things supposedly come in threes, I guess my luck is probably done for the next 30 or so years. 

Here are some other fun giveaways you can still enter:

Susan, the History Quilter is giving away a $50 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop to celebrate the friendships made through the online quilting community and reaching 50 (now 54) followers. 

Rebecca of Making Rebecca Lynne is also celebrating her followers (72!!) by giving away a super-cute handmade frame pouch and some lovely fabrics.

Allegory of {Sew} Allegorical is having her very first giveaway of a fat quarter bundle of Wickedly Wonderful Halloween fabrics.

Lynne of Lily's Quilts is hosting a giveaway extravaganza called Christmas Gifts for Quilters, celebrating all those things we would love to get from our loved ones for Christmas. Her theory being that anyone wondering what to get you can just poke the button from her blog and find out. Or, you can win it from one of her giveaways. Isn't she an evil genius??

Goodie Swap 2011

Last one, I promise!!

I wanted to wait until I got both packages before I posted about them. My second partner's package arrived yesterday, so now I'm so excited to show you my goodies!

My first partner was Steph from Stephie's Stories.  Look at the fabulous things she sent me! A beautiful mug rug, a quilted tote for carrying rulers and cutting supplies, and even a coordinating mug for my rug!

I love the colors in this mug rug, especially the mug fabric, which is also what's on the back. Can you see the quilting that makes the steam over the mug? So great. 

 Steph even made a mix for an individual mug-sized Molten Lava Cake and made a pretty bag for it, too. I made it the other night after the kids were in bed and it was great! Does anyone else give themselves a treat for making it through another day?

I was beginning to wonder a bit about my second package, but yesterday I checked the mail on the way home from preschool and got a fun surprise...a puffy white envelope marked Royal Air Mail, all the way from Britain! So fun. 

And what was inside? 

The brilliant Hadley from Flying Blind on a Rocket Cycle sent a beautiful mug rug, sewing kit, chocolates, a magazine, and some cute owl stickers.  Quite a haul! I can't wait to get some quiet time to sit down and look through that magazine and maybe sample some chocolates. Can you see the featured article is making jams and jellies? Quite appropriate, no?

I love that fussy bee and the pops of orange. The back is beautiful, too...

And look at the inside of the sewing kit:

 How fun is that? I'm very excited to have a little needle book to take with me in the car! Now I just need to figure out a fun hand sewing project. Any suggestions?

I have had such a great time in this swap, in case you hadn't noticed!

Huge thanks to Cindy at Fluffy Sheep Quilting for hosting and organizing such a fabulous swap. More thanks to my "receiving" partners, Jennifer and Sarah, for being such fun to make for. And to my "sending" partners, Steph and Hadley, for being so creative and generous!

WIP Wednesday, vol. 8

For once I actually feel like I got some things accomplished this week! 

But yet, I don't have a whole lot to show you...

Finish:

My Across the Sea is done! Yay! Donated to Project Linus via the 100 Quilts for Kids Campaign. You can read more about the quilt here.

In Progress:

I finished piecing the top for my Kaleidoscope quilt and got a good start on the back. Just need to get a little more of the brown solid then I should have that finished, too. I am so excited about this quilt! I just have no idea how I'm going to quilt it. Do I always say that? 

Getting Started:

Apparently I've decided that I just don't have enough to do, so I am joining the "No Excuses" Holiday Sew Along at Sew, Mama, Sew. I'm going to make the Christmas tree "pants" and can't wait for my tree to have some proper clothing this year. 

I am also being completely tempted by the 12 Days of Christmas Sampler QAL hosted by Sara of Sew Sweetness. I keep saying that I want to make a Christmas quilt, but I also keep putting it off, so maybe this year I'll actually get it done.

One thing that I will definitely make time for is Stockings for Kids. Lyanna of Purple Panda Quilts is hosting a homemade stocking drive so that the foster children she works with can have something homemade to call their own for Christmas. For more info and to sign up to help, visit her Flickr group.

As always, I'm linking up to WIP Wednesday, hosted by the lovely Lee of Freshly Pieced.