Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Bike Bag

September, really?  Where has the time gone!  I can't believe that I'm back to work and students are back to school also.
I finished this project almost a month ago, but I haven't had time to write up the post.  Whoops!  But this one is worth the wait, I promise!  It's and idea I saw from SewMamaSew and it's another one of my Project 14 project complete :)  And I'm putting this one to good use while riding around town (the perks of small town living!)  I love riding my bike to the grocery store or to the library, now I have a nice little pouch to put my wallet and keys in when I go for a ride - perfect!
The three days before I started work again in mid-August I went camping with my husband's family.  We go near Lanesboro and do a lot of biking on the Root River trail.  It was so nice to have this pouch to tuck a snack into (or money for ice cream) and my camera.  I also got lots of compliments on it.  I hope you enjoy it!


What you need:

  • 2 - 10x7 inch rectangles for the outside of your pouch
  • 2 - 10x7.5 inch rectangles for the inside of your pouch
  • 2 - 10x7 inch rectangles of batting (I used Pellon, but I would suggest using something a little less stiff)
  • 2 - 4x9 inch rectangles for the straps
  • 2 - 3 inch long  strips of velcro (mine was 3/4inch, sew on velcro)
  • 1 - 6.5 inch strip of velcro for bag closure
  • Thread
  • Pins
  • Sewing Machine :)

This is actually a very simple project to make.  You can use one fabric for the liner if you'd like or use the same fabric both inside and outside (that's what I did).  All seam allowances are 1/2 inch (nice and big :)

What you do:
After you have cut out your fabric, you will need to baste your batting to the two outside pieces.  Put the batting on the bottom and the fabric right side up and baste around all four edges using 1/4 inch seam allowance. Do this for both outside pieces of fabric.
Now put the right sides together and using a regular straight stitch and your 1/2 inch seam allowance, sew along the two short sides and the one long bottom side.  
Next, you  need to make the corners on the bottom of your bag.  Pinch the side seam and the bottom seam together and sew a seam 1/2 inch from the point and then clip the corners. Do this for both of the bottom edges.

Take your inside fabric and place right sides together and sew along the two short sides and the long bottom side.
Pinch and sew the corners for the inside of your bag.
Now you are going to put your inside and outsides together.  Place the right sides together for both the inside and outside of your bag, pin together.  Sew along the top edge, leaving a three inch opening for turning.
Turn your bag right side out.  Your inside fabric was a little longer, so you should have a little boarder of the inside fabric along the top edge of your bag.  (Sorry, no picture of this one since I used the same fabric for both!)  Sew your the opening that you turned your bag through closed. 
Center your velcro each side of your opening.  Pin it in place and then sew it in place.
Now you need to make your straps.  Fold them in half, with the right sides facing in.  Sew along one short side and the long side, using 1/4 seam allowance.  Turn through the open short side.  Turn the open edge in on the bottom and stitch close.   
Find the middle of your strips.  Place one strip of velcro on each side of center.  Sew the velcro into place on opposite sides of your straps (so when you wrap them around the handle bars of your bike they will meet)
Finally, pin the straps about 1.5 inches from the sides of your bag (and about 1 inch from the top) and sew the strap in place. I made a small box with an x in the middle to reinforce the strap and make sure it stays in place. 
And you are done!  Enjoy your new bike bag!


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Monday, September 2, 2013

August Update


So... I set some lofty goals at the beginning of the year (I still don't really want to call them resolutions... resolutions too often get broken. So... I set goals. I just happened to set them on Jan. 1st)
How am I doing?
Let's take a look.


1. Be active everyday - at least do something! I'm good about being active during the week and hitting the gym - the weekends, not so much. I'd like to change that.
As usual, I missed a few days here and there.  Take a look.  But I keep trying!  Maybe one month before the end of the year I will actually have a month where I don't miss a single day.  

2. Run 400 miles. I'm worried this might be too much of a stretch for me, considering I don't go much more than 3 miles ever (three times a week), but I can give it a try! I ran about 250 in 2012, so maybe I can be a little more consistent and up my mileage in 2013.
I had some downtime from running this month, especially since I had to travel for work, but I still did pretty good with my mileage!  This month I ran 34.05 Miles.  This brings my total 2013 mileage to 280.07/400 miles. 

3. Run my first 5K since high school cross country.
I'm registered for a race in September!

4. Finish my prayer shawl for St. Mary's Hospital
Finished in April during my spring break - it's huge!

5. Knit 5 Chemo caps   
Total is now 3/5.
Soooo close to being done with number 4!  Just have 10 rows left!

6. Finish one of my other UFO knitting projects
Didn't happen.  Another one I need to work on, better get moving as the year is ticking away (and I'm crazy busy now that I'm back to work!) 

7. Take two masters classes - I am very unmotivated about working towards my master's but I know I should be taking advantage of the tuition reimbursement at Connections Academy
This one may not happen. I still haven't taken one class yet. I'm not motivated to take the class and worried about overbooking myself. I value the little free time that I do have!

8. Visit one new city or state
Done in Feb. during my honeymoon. I was in Ft. Lauderdale, San Juan Puerto Rico, St. Thomas USVI, and Half Moon Cay.
Also went to Thunder Bay Ontario this month!  Whoot!  Added another new country :)  But sadly no new passport stamps :(

9. Be a better wife (I know, it's vague), but somedays I don't feel like I do that well in this area. Maybe I'm still getting the hang of it since I've only been married 2 1/2 months.
Work in progress.  All I can say I that I have an awesome husband, who I love, and some days don't feel like I deserve him.    

10. Be kinder to myself. M keeps telling me that I'm too hard on myself and need to relax some and be nicer to myself and everything will be ok. We both know that being kind to yourself can be tough, but I want to try to make some improvements in this area.
This month I struggled with worries and worrying - a lot.  M can usually calm me down pretty quick, so that's good, but I wish I didn't worry so much in the first place.  Still working on it.  

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Diamond Apron

I've got a another great sewing tutorial for you today!  Back in July I shared this as a guest post, while I was on vacation, but I wanted to make sure to share with you today, in case you missed it before.  
I love this super easy and simple pattern.  This apron was designed by my husband's uncle's mother-in law - whew, what a mouthful!  She designed the pattern for my husband's grandma who made an apron like this for all of her daughters for Christmas.  I thought the pattern was practical and cute - love the diamond shape instead of a traditional apron.  As I like to cook and bake, I thought this would be something especially fun to learn to make so I asked the sewing master for some help :)  This apron can be made from start to finish in a few hours and makes a great gift!  I made this as a birthday gift for my best friend back in March.  I'm a very new sewer, so I took my time with it, but even so, I was done in 4 or 5 hours.  The experienced sewer who was showing me the pattern and helping me managed to finish an apron, in less time than it took me to do mine, while she spent time helping me and making notes and writing down the pattern - so basically, if you are anything but a novice sewer, this should take less than 3 hours or so, start to finish.
As you clearly know from reading my blog, I love to bake, but I can be a messy cook, so aprons are a must.  These also make great hostess gifts or gifts for the baker or cook in your life. 
Good Luck!

Diamond Apron
What you need:
Fabric A - 3/4 yard - for front
Fabric B - 1 yard - back, ties, neckband, border strips
Two large decorative buttons
Thread

What to do:
Step 1 - Cut fabric as follows
  • From Fabric A, cut 22 1/2 x 22 1/2 square - this is for the front
  • From Fabric A, cut a piece 7 x 10 1/2 - this is for the pocket liner
  • From Fabric B, cut 24 1/4 x 24 1/2 square - this is for the back
  • From Fabric B, cut two strips 24 1/2 x 2 1/2 - these are for the border
  • From Fabric B, cut two pieces 36 x 5 - these are your ties
  • From Fabric B, cut 23 x 5 piece - this is your neckband.  
  • From Fabric B, cut a piece 7 x 10 1/2 - this is for the outside of the pocket. 

All seam allowances are 1/4 inch.
Step 2 - Taking the neckband piece, fold and press in 1/4 inch along sides.  Fold pressed sides together - right side facing out, press.  Top-stitch along both long sides and both ends.
Step 3 - Repeat step two with both side tie pieces
Step 4 - Taking the two border strips, attach to two adjoining sides of front piece.
Step 5 - Place the two pocket pieces right sides together, and pin.  At one short end (7 inch side) create a "V" shape (see image below), by cutting in two of the edges.  Once you have made a V shape on one end, stitch pocket pieces together, leaving a two inch opening.  Turn right side out and press.  Stitch opening closed.
Step 6 - Stitch pocket to front of right side.  You can either center it, or off-set slightly to one side so that it falls on a leg and is handy for putting your recipe card in :)  Press top flap down.  Top-stitch around pocket if desired.  
Step 7 - Position and pin (on wrong side of fabric) neckband to upper corner of front.  The upper corner is corner opposite of the two border strips.  Baste in place.
Step 8 - Position ties on wrong side of fabric, 6 inches from the bottom edge.  Angle upwards slightly (so they tie around you better).  Baste
Step 9 - Fold and pin ties and neckband on right side of fabric (this is so you don't accidentally sew them into the seams when you sew the front to the back.  
Step 10 - Make a sandwich of fabric, front piece with borders, ties/neckband, back piece.  Right sides of front and back should be facing.  Sew front to back along all four sides, leaving a 5 inch opening for turning.  (I left my opening between the neckband and side tie on one side).  
Step 11 - Turn right side out
Step 12 - Press entire apron.  Fold top corner (by neckband) in about 3 inches and press down as well)
Step 13 - Stitch side opening closed
Step 14 - Top stitch around entire front if desired.  
Step 15 - Sew on buttons on top flap and stand back and admire - you did it!
  

Thanks for Reading!  Danielle @ Peanut Life Adventures

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Monday

Monday, August 26, 2013

Puppy Chow

I needed a simple recipe to share with you this week.  I'm exhausted after my first full week back to work (half of which I spent in the Cities at our office for in-service training - which mean staying in a hotel and being away from home because its 2 1/2 hours away).
And this past weekend, it's been HOT.  Summer has returned with a vengeance this last week of August and its supposed to be over 90 and very humid every day.  I don't like the heat.  So the thought of turning on the oven to bake cookies or something else was not appealing.
But even so, I wanted to be able to make a sweet treat for my husband for this week coming up.  Solution - puppy chow - quick and easy AND no oven needed.  Just the microwave.  Just what I needed this week.
So enjoy this classic recipe and stay cool!
 Puppy Chow
Adapted from Chex Mix

Ingredients:
  • 9 cups of Chex Mix - use rice Chex mix for a Gluten free option!
  • 1 cup of chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup (4 Tablespoons) Margarine
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Directions:
Measure the cereal into a large bowl.  I like to use my big Tupperware mixing bowl with the lid- just one bowl plus the measuring cup gets dirty then!  In a 2 cup or larger microwaveable bowl, melt the chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter for 1 min on high power in the microwave.  Stir.  Microwave for an additional 30 seconds or until the mixture can be stirred smooth.  Add in the vanilla and mix.  Pour chocolate mixture over the cereal and stir with a large spoon until all the cereal is evenly coated.  Pour the powdered sugar over the cereal, place lid on bowl and shake well until the powdered sugar covers the cereal.  Allow to cool.  Cover and store in cool place.
Enjoy!
Today is the student's first day back at school, so it's sure to be a busy day for me!



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Monday, August 19, 2013

Secret Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookies

My husband adores chocolate chip cookies.  Like there is serious love going on.  They are the cookie he nearly always requests.  I usually use a basic recipe, the one on the package, and the cookies come out alright, but I always feel they are a little too thin and come out more "brown" or cooked than I would like them to be.  I know that my husband really likes a thick soft cookie, so I did some exploring and came up with this one.  It has a secret ingredient :).  The same secret ingredient in my cake batter cookies (which are my husband's other current favorite - and I think the reason is because of the secret ingredient).
How do you like your cookies?  Thin and on the crisper side or thicker and soft and chewy?

Now, without further ado, lets get to the cookies!

Secret Ingredient Chocolate Chip Recipe:
Recipe adapted from: Six Sisters

Ingredients:
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding (just the mix, you don't need to make the pudding)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups chocolate chips (I used mini ones this time!)

Directions: Using a stand mixer, cream together the butter, sugars, and pudding mix.  Add in eggs and vanilla and beat well.  Slowly add in the flour and baking soda.  Fold in the chocolate chips.  Using a cookie scoop, scoop cookie dough onto greased baking sheets.  Bake for 8-12 minutes at 350 degrees.  Enjoy!


In case you didn't figure it out, the secret ingredient is the pudding mix.  It is the key to having a really soft and chewy cookie - give it a try!

Side note - this is my 100th post!  I can't believe I've written that much already.  I hope you are enjoying Peanut Life Adventures!  Thanks for taking the time to stop by my corner of the web.  Have an amazing day!
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