Friday 31 May 2013

Food Friday

Food, glorious food! It's no secret that I love food!   I have a big sweet tooth - that's no secret either :) but I struggle to come up with meal ideas each night, so it seems like we end up having the same old thing over and over again. 

I thought it would be fun to post a recipe each week. I'm calling it "Food Friday".  I am hoping that my lovely readers out there will help me out with some of their recipe ideas as well! Feel free to leave comments and link to other recipes ideas.

This week's recipe is one I made a few nights ago - Spinach and Ricotta lasagne.


It is really a cannelloni recipe that I adapted because I didn't have any cannelloni :)

Ingredients:

250g frozen spinach thawed
500g fresh ricotta
1 egg
1/2 chopped flat leaf parsley
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
salt & pepper
lasagne sheets
2 tins crushed tomatoes (or equivalent passata)
500ml water
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup oregano chopped
1/2 cup grated cheese

Bechamel Sauce:
60g butter
1/3 cup flour
4 1/2 cups milk (add as needed)

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.
Combine spinach, ricotta, egg, parley, Parmesan, salt and pepper.  Mix well.  Combine tomatoes, water, garlic and oregano.  Alternate layers of tomato mixture, lasagne sheets and spinach filling until mixture has been used.  Top with Bechamel sauce and grated cheese.  Cook for 35-40 minutes or until pasta is cooked through.

To make sauce - melt butter in saucepan over medium heat.  Add flour and stir until combined.  Cook for a minute (do not burn) gradually add milk, stirring constantly, until desired consistency.

And there you have it.  Enjoy!

Thursday 30 May 2013

Busy Sewing

I have been busy sewing a few "Playground Ruffles" this past week.  I think they look great! :)


I LOVE this fabric.  I bought it thinking I would make dresses with it, but I think it looks perfect as a "Playground Ruffle".


This Big Sister, Little Sister set is sooo cute!  I can't wait for them to receive it :)


I love buying fabric!  It is even better when I have someone to buy it for. I found these cute fabrics for my niece. 


 


Grubbee is now on facebook (visit us here)! It's very exciting.

Thank you to every one who has visited our madeit store, liked us on facebook and ordered something!  And thank you to everyone else who just enjoys just reading the blog.  :)

Sunday 26 May 2013

Sneaking out!

Recently I posted about sneaking cuddles.  Well now it's just about sneaking OUT!


For the last few days little E has been unwell.  I forgot that when she is unwell all the routines and sleeping patterns go out the window.  She has kept us up all night just because she wanted someone to be with her.  I get that. When you are unwell you want some extra love and attention, but it's become a little bit ridiculous.

My husband and I have taken turns (as she has woken frequently during the night) to go in and put her back to sleep.  Let me just say, E is usually a pretty good sleeper.  She goes to bed with minimal fuss and is usually still awake when we leave the room.  But not when she is sick.  When she wakes she wants us to pat her back to sleep and not leave!  So it became a mission to get out of her room.
We have very creaky floorboards.

I've tried backing away, one step at a time, inching towards the door.  Just when I thought I had made it, Creak! Scream! more patting.

I've tried imagining myself floating above the floorboards. Obviously I can't float.  Creak! Scream! more patting.

I've even tried strategically placing my feet wide apart to avoid the creaks.  Creak! Scream! more patting, shushing, stern talking - GO TO SLEEP.

I've worn socks.

I haven't worn socks.

I stepped on blankets.

My husband patted her through the cot bars and even tried crawling out.  ha ha ha!  But all he got was Creak! Scream! and back in for more patting.

Ahhh and so it has been going for a few nights. 

We tried letting her cry, but after a few minutes she couldn't breathe through the extra snot and tears, and her bed was soaked.

I made up this song when E was a baby. I sing it to her as I am putting her to bed each night.  It goes like this:

Go to sleep, go to sleep;
go to sleep my baby,
go to sleep, go to sleep; 
go to sleep.

Close your eyes, close your eyes;
go to sleep,
close your eyes, close your eyes;
go to sleep.

The words have been getting more stern.   GO to sleep, GO to sleep, GO TO SLEEP my baby....

And then I just figured when she is well again she will go back to sleeping well again.  I love my sleep, but I love E too.  For now I will do what mothers do and help to make her comfortable.

Quiet Book

I have had a few requests to post pictures of the Quiet Book I made for E.

Firstly, let me say, hats off to anyone who has ever made a Quiet Book!  They are tedious, annoying and HARD!

I started this project about a year ago, and it's still not finished.  I had grand ideas of making this intricate book that would keep E entertained and quiet for ages, especially during church. Sadly, I haven't quite managed that.

Here is what I came up with:



Button hole flowers with co-ordinating button colours; counting beads.


Laundry basket with clothes pegs and line and boy and girl to dress up.


Paint palette with Velcro paint spots and paintbrush; caterpillar with press studs and cocoon pouch.

Apple tree with Velcro apples and basket for counting.  Back cover holds paper pad and crayons.

The pages are made from calico with felt stitched on.  The cover (which is not finished) is made from quilting fabric.   

Each page measures 12 x 11 inches before being stitched together.  Roughly 11 x 10 inches after stitching.

I used hinge rings through eyelets to keep it together. Perfect for adding more pages later - which is a perfect idea.

 

 




Hopefully one day I will get the energy and motivation to make some more pages, and finish the cover :)

Friday 24 May 2013

Boys adjustable neck tie

After many hours, many variations and many pieces of advice, we have come up with this version of an adjustable boys neck tie. 

"Just Like Dad"


The "Just Like Dad" fabrics will have your special little man looking like dad (or grandad) in no time!


The neck ties are made from 100% cotton which means they are perfect for 'grubbee' little boys.  Totally washable (take a little bit of care when washing though).


The adjustable neck strap is made from elastic with a button hole loop and velcro for easy adjustment. 




 ... and now we have changed it!

boys neck tie
The adjustable neckties are now made with a velcro close, making it easy to adjust and remove.  I still love the old style, but found that the velcro makes it easier to put on and take off!  All the "just like dad" fabrics are still available for the velcro necktie!

Visit my madeit store (click here) or the grubbee facebook page for purchase details and sizing options.





Tuesday 21 May 2013

What's the rush?

I am guilty of always having something to do and somewhere to be.  I seldom take time to slow down and relax.

"... it is good advice to slow down a little, steady the course, and focus on the essential..."
- Dieter F Uchtdorf
Today I needed that advice.

I had to take a trip to the post office today.  E decided that instead of riding in the pram she would walk.  This would be ok, except for the fact that it takes me ten minutes to walk, how long was it going to take waiting for E to walk?

We started out and I found myself getting impatient instantly.  I tried unsuccessfully to put her in the pram many times.  After walking for about 5 minutes (and still being able to see our house) I took a deep breath.  The truth is I didn't have anything else I "needed" to do.  There was no reason for me to be in such a hurry.  So I finally decided to just let her walk.

We stopped and talked to a puppy.  We stopped and smelled the flowers (weeds).  We stopped to look at the birds.

It didn't matter that it took us half an hour to get to the post office. We got there. She didn't walk the whole way, but she enjoyed walking and exploring and I enjoyed watching her.

There will always be things that need doing, but there are always things that don't need doing right now.  I learned a valuable lesson today.  It seems to be one I am learning over and over again.  These years are precious and if I continue to fill them with non-essential things they will be gone and forgotten before I even realise.

Instead of having a memory of stepping into the post office for the hundreth time, I have memories of watching E chatting to a puppy, smelling some flower weeds and looking at birds.


Sunday 19 May 2013

How does your garden grow?

Ours?...not very well.

We used to have a humble but mentionable vegetable garden. 


We grew tomatoes, beans, cucumber, corn and silver beet.  It was exciting!



We even had visitors to our garden...
 

I use "we" when really it was my husband who looked after the garden.  I'm not sure why he stopped actually.  Maybe I said I could do it.  It's not that hard right?  You just need to water the plants...

I have a very good helper for that.

 

For some reason, the plants didn't want to grow.  I planted the seeds, followed the directions, watered them and then waited...days...weeks...longer than weeks (still watering in between of course)

Nothing sprouted.  Occasionally I thought I did see a tiny green leaf, only to discover it was a weed.  It's a very sad looking garden.



And then one day I stumbled upon THIS! Sabotage!



 
I'd like to think E has everything to do with my inability to be a gardener, but sadly it's not true.

Maybe one day I can perfect the art of gardening.  For now, we continue to water the weeds and dream about nice home-grown vegetables.
  
 


Friday 17 May 2013

The moment you have all been waiting for...

No, this is not a birth announcement....

This is something I have been dreaming about doing for a long time.  While I still feel apprehensive about showing it to the world, my biggest fan and number one supporter (my husband) thinks I am ready! So here goes...


This past year has taught me that children are MESSY!

finger painted by E

Time and time again I found myself saving E's nice clothes for special occasions and then being disappointed when she outgrew them, having only worn them once or twice.  So I decided I could make clothes that are nice, affordable and perfect to wear every single day, for any occasion or no occasion at all.

Now they are for sale in my madeit store! (click here)


I've even had two orders already!! (thank you)

E showcasing the "Garden Reversible"




This fun skirt is REVERSIBLE! That means two skirts in one! Made from 100% cotton, durable, easy to care for and perfect for those "every day occasions".

Size pictured 12 months



My favourite is the "Playground Ruffle".  
 
Size pictured 12-18 months

Size pictured 6-12 months
 
Made from 100% cotton, perfect for the warmer months, but great with co-ordinating tights for the cooler months.  A must for every active, young girl's wardrobe.
Size pictured 18-24 months
 
Size pictured 12-18 months

 E loves them too (so much so, that she had to try them all on)


Feel free to take a peak at my store and share it with your friends! I'm happy to take orders if there is something you like but don't see it in the right size or fabric. Leave me a comment, send me an email or find me on facebook.

Thanks for taking the time to look.
grubbee


Keep an eye out for what's coming next to.....




Wednesday 15 May 2013

Something Exciting is Coming!

I thought it was time for me to give you a sneak peak at what I have been busy doing lately.  The sewing machine has definitely been getting a workout!

coming soon...

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