As soon as I saw this chocolate chip muffin recipe, I knew I had to make them. And they did not disappoint at all. I love a simple recipe with a short ingredient list that yields amazing results. This definitely meets the criteria, and it it satisfied the chocoholic in me.

I wrapped several muffins individually in saran wrap very tightly, and then placed them in a ziplock bag before freezing them. After thawing in the refrigerator overnight, microwaving one for about twenty seconds yielded the perfect result. It is nice to have a stash of treats in the freezer…and it also prevents me from eating all twelve muffins too quickly!

We had a small family party for her in our home. For decorations, I sewed two fabric banners by following this bunting tutorial that I found via Pinterest.

I chose an orange and pink theme, and probably the hardest part for me was selecting the combination of fabrics. The rest was quite simple, and mostly I followed the tutorial. The only things I did differently were that I sewed 3/8″ around the sides of the triangles (instead of 1/2″), and I used a pinking blade on my rotary cutter (instead of pinking shears).

My husband suggested re-using them for subsequent birthdays. The crafter in me would prefer set these aside as keepsakes and then make something different every year, but time will tell whether I am ambitious enough to make that happen.

This colorway isn’t one I would have purchased, but I think I swapped with someone because I like Claudia Hand Painted Sock Yarn more than whatever I was trading away. Nevertheless, the socks are cozy and I am always happy to add to my collection.

Yarn: Claudia Hand Painted Sock Yarn, Boot Camp, 2 skeins
Pattern: My generic 52 stitch top-down sock with 30-row slip stitch heel
Needles: US #2 / 32 inch for ribbing; US #1 / 32 inch for all other parts

Thank you, Mari! I think Munchkin will love it.

The back has a slot for outgoing mail or coupons.

I am trying to decide what to make as Christmas gifts for my colleagues, and am debating between this organizer and a mini Moleskin journal with a reusable fabric cover (from this pattern, which I have already tried). Which would you prefer to receive as a gift?

I have come across this at two gatherings (made by two different people), and we have made it ourselves three times in the last couple of months. It is a total winner. Here is my version, modified slightly from the one at Allrecipes.

1/4 cup sesame seeds
1 (16 ounce) package bow tie pasta
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
1/3 cup rice vinegar
2 teaspoons sesame oil
3 tablespoons white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 rotisserie chicken, meat shredded
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro (or more to taste)
1/3 cup chopped green onion (or more to taste)

1. Cook pasta until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water until cool. Transfer to a large bowl.
2. Combine vegetable oil, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, sesame seeds, ginger, and pepper in a bowl, jar with lid, or large ziplock bag. Stir or shake well.
3. Pour sesame dressing over pasta, and toss to coat evenly. Gently mix in chicken, cilantro, and green onions.
4. Cover and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for several hours. Adjust seasonings to taste.

For the front, I chose an Etsuko Furaya fabric that had been in my stash for several years. The back and strap were made with dark gray wool, also from my stash.

The pattern is excellent, with clear instructions and full-size pattern pieces. I thought the bags were simple yet elegant, and admittedly I had a hard time parting with them.

Fast forward to last week, and I finally made one for myself. I used the same gray wool for the back, while the front is a Scandinavian bird print purchased from Superbuzzy a couple of years ago.

I am quite happy with this bag. It was equally exciting to me that I had the time to make it!

Have you discovered Pinterest yet? I didn’t pay much attention when I first heard about it, but once I actually started browsing I was hooked. It is a great site to find ideas and inspiration for home decor, cooking/baking, crafting, and fashion. I stumbled across this recipe on Pinterest, and it is simply divine. This cake is now among my all-time favorite baked goods.

At 6+ months now, she is loads of fun! She keeps rolling over again and again, is super curious about everything, loves interacting with us, and will put just about anything in her mouth. Her smiles and chuckles melt my heart. She is such a precious blessing and brings us so much joy.

It has been a process for me to learn how to intergrate parts of my “old life” into my post-baby life. I’ve been knitting a little bit here and there, and recently I found time to sew a couple of small things and try two new recipes. That was exciting for me.

How are you?