Monday Meals!

See, I can still enjoy french fries while on WW... ;-)

Weigh in #3 is tomorrow...I'm down 6.6 lbs in two weeks. I'd love if my weight loss was at least 1.5 lbs tomorrow! (Fingers crossed!)

Cumin-Spiced Oven Fries

side dishes

POINTS® Value: 3 Servings: 4 Preparation Time: 10 min Cooking Time: 30 min Level of Difficulty: Easy Works with Simply Filling

Enjoy these slightly spicy potatoes as a snack or as a side dish with your favorite oven-fried fish or chicken recipe.

Ingredients

	1 spray(s) cooking spray
	2 medium sweet potato(es), scrubbed and cut into 12 wedges each (about 1 pound)
	2 medium Yukon Gold potato(es), scrubbed and cut into 12 wedges each (about 1 pound)
	1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil, extra-virgin
	1 tsp table salt
	1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
	1/2 tsp ground cumin, or more to taste

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 450ºF. Coat a large nonstick baking sheet with cooking spray.
  
  
• In a large bowl, combine potatoes, oil, salt, pepper and cumin; toss to coat.
  
  
• Spread potatoes in an even layer on prepared baking sheet and cook 10 minutes; flip potatoes with a spatula and cook 10 minutes more. Flip potatoes again and cook until golden brown and fragrant, about 5 to 10 minutes more. Yields about 12 wedges per serving.

Outdoor Cushion Slipcovers and Table Runner

Not surprisingly, after I made Lucy's little bubble dress on Friday, I got inspired to sew something else.

After a trip to Sirs fabric store in Fayeteville, TN on Saturday, I came home - not with my #1 priority which was to find flannel fabric for a new rail fence rag quilt for Jason and I to use - but with several yards of fabric that I fell in love with! (Sadly, the flannel selection currently is not anything that I need. It's a small selection to start with, and every print was a licensed Disney character flannel print or a drab, not cute solid flannel color. Looks like I'll have to pay a premium at Creative Sewing here in town for my fabric.)

I'm going to make slipcovers for the outdoor cushions I have, which are perfectly fine, except for 1) I don't love the blue and white striped pattern, and 2) have become a little dingy after the ties loosened and Toby figured out how to pull them off the chairs and use them as beds :-)

But, problem solved...I made new slipcovers, and I love how they turned out. I had just enough fabric leftover to make a table runner too.

So, after a few more hours of sewing this weekend, ta-da...




My friend Jamie went with me to Sirs...check out this adorable Easter Basket she made for her cutie-patootie daughter, Hastings. So great, Jamie! I love it!

Bubble Dress

In preparation for the new rag quilt I'm going to begin making, I was sorting through my miscellaneous and leftover fabrics I've accumulated over several sewing projects. I found a favorite fabric (a fabric that brings me such nostalgia, for I used it to make pillows in my first classroom :-), and decided to use this tutorial to make Lucy a fun dress.

Fun project, and a great way to make use of old white onesies that may have stains around the crotch area (you cut that off anyway!!! :-) and extra fabric you may have.

I'd say this took me about three hours total to make (I started yesterday), and it was great practice to practice "gathering" and sewing with elastic.

I consider this project a huge success for several reason:

1. Lucy helped me pick out the ruffle print, and she's SUPER excited to get to wear this. She was responsible for bringing the swatch to the store so we could choose a ruffle fabric to coordinate.

2. I did not cry once during this project. :-) (Sewing usually brings me frustration, which brings on the tears...) Actually, I haven't cried during the last several sewing projects I've attempted.

3. I finished it despite the fact that halfway through yesterday, I was convinced I'd scrap the whole project and toss it in the trash. (The ruffle and gathering it properly were causing me major headaches!) It's true the ruffle doesn't look great up close, but from far away the whole dress is completely adorable!

4. I achieved the "bubble" effect I wanted...to mimic the bubbles in the fabric just for fun! ;-)

Can't wait to see my baby girl wear it!

Little Lots

Now, I'm not nearly as savvy a shopper regarding coupon use as my friends, April and Jamie, who can save unbelieveable amounts of money when they use coupons, but I have discovered a little gem on 431 south.

In the New Hope area, on the right hand side of the road (if you're heading south), there's a store called Little Lots, or maybe it's little big lots, or perhaps I'm confusing the two stores. But whatever...the point is, you can find amazing deals there WITHOUT coupons. I usually stop by every other time I go to new hope to tutor.

Some of my favorite deals, let's see:

paper plates (8pack) cute turquoise color, $.29 a pack

sturdy pocket folders in fun animated styles, $.10 each

Valentines's Day cards, $.50 a package

Easter Egg Dying Sets, $.50 a package

Dog Shampoo, $2.50

Kids Playclothes, $1.00 and $2.00 new.

lipstic/gloss, Cover Girl, 5 for $1.00 (I kid you not!)

prune and/or cranberry juice, 48 oz. (that's a huge container) for $.69 (This is when I wish they sold milk and bread too :-)


It's not a pristine store, very much a dig to find the goods store, but so worth it I think! I love shopping there just to see what I can find!

Happy St. Pattie's Day!!!

Top o' the morning to ya!

We headed out to the St. Pattie's Day parade downtown with our playdate group. It was SO COLD! Miss last year's St. Pattie's Day weather! But a great time was had by all! Hope you're having a great day!

letter to Damson Honda

Those of you who follow my blog may remember when I sent a very forward, direct letter of complaint after I had a terrible visit at Phoenix Emergency Care. Click here if you want to see that post.

Well, I do want to let you know I'm not a person who only lets my voice be heard when someone behaves in an inappropriate way. I really enjoy writing letters condoning a business' high standards which they act upon.

You may remember a week or two ago when Jack locked himself in the car in the Costco parking lot, and how the Honda service department came to save me! Well, I sent them a letter letting them know how much I appreciated their help.

I think it's important to give feedback - no matter what kind it is...a company can only learn if they're meeting the expectations of their clients if they hear from you!

Here is my letter to Jerry Damson Honda:

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Mrs. Kelly Martin

XXXX
XXXX

Jerry Damson Honda Service Department

2402 Leeman Ferry Road

Huntsville, AL 35805

Dear Honda Service Department,

I want to take an opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for your help in saving me from a very unfortunate situation. On Tuesday, my fifteen-month old managed to lock himself in our Odyssey. I was loading groceries in the Costco parking lot while my son entertained himself with my keys (in hindsight, I should have foreseen the potential hazards! J).

With our spare set of keys locked inside my house, every neighbor I knew unavailable, and my husband unreachable at work, I was quickly running out of options. I thought there might be a chance that the dealership might have some universal key that unlocks all Honda cars.

So, with a shaky voice, choked with small sobs, I called the service department where I spoke to a very nice man who kindly reassured me that everything would be fine, that we’d get my son out of the car. He told me they would make a key for me from the VIN number, which they had since we were stored in their computer from our purchase and service occasions.

In fewer than fifteen minutes, my knights in shining armor – or perhaps I should say in a shiny bright blue courtesy car – came to my rescue in the Costco parking lot. My nerves were shot, and my hands felt frozen cold from the freezing temperature outside, but I was able to join my mischievous toddler in our car. All was well, thanks to the very nice men –whom I don’t even know their names because I was hardly thinking clearly – who saved my day!

Again, thank you so much for coming to my rescue, and so very quickly! I know your dealership prides itself on providing excellent service. Not only does it excel at that, but it’s obvious to me that you hold yourselves to an even higher standard. I was treated like a “family member,” and I am so appreciative of that.

Fondly,

Kelly Martin

Botanical Gardens

Jack crawling up the "worm hole."


How he decided to get down the hill... :-)


He loved banging on the musical instruments inside the "music house"


I LOVED this wall...it's like an "I Spy" wall...it was the kids favorite thing. They spent a long time in here!







Isn't this the cutest thing you've ever seen?!? Little flower "beds"... I love it!