Blueberry Muffins

I can't believe I haven't blogged about these already! There's nothing quite as delicious as warm muffins fresh from the oven; the tops are still firm and not the least bit soggy, the berries are warm and delectable, the bottom is moist and fluffy. I got this recipe from my mom my freshman year of college. I'm not sure where she got it from or if she ever made them. Blueberry is my favorite. Raspberry chocolate chip is also quite good. Banana, peach, apple, and regular chocolate chip are also good. I don't recommend strawberry. I usually double or triple this recipe. I also use canola oil or vegetable oil instead of salad oil.

Sweet Muffins (makes 12)
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/4 salad oil
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
mix ins*

Heat oven to 400F. Add liners to muffin cups. Beat egg. Stir in milk and oil. Mix in remaining ingredients just until flour is moistened. Batter should be lumpy. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake 20-25 min or until golden brown. Immediately remove from pan.

*Mix ins
1. Apple muffins- stir in 1 cup grated apple with the oil and add 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon with the flour. Sprinkle with Nut- Crunch Topping. Mix 1/3 cup packed brown sugar, 1/3 cup broken nuts and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Bake 25-30 minutes.

2. Blueberry muffins- fold 1 cup fresh blueberries or 3/4 well drained frozen blueberries (thawed) into batter.

3. Cranberry orange muffins- fold 1 tablespoon grated orange peel and 1 cup cranberries, cut in half, into batter.

4. Surprise muffins- fill muffin cups only 1/2 full; drop 1 teaspoon jelly in center of each and add batter to fill cups 2/3 full.

Just Because

The Camera Box/Bag

Before we went on our trip, I decided I wanted a camera bag. However, I didn't find any that I liked that were in our price range so I made one. This is the second version- the first is large enough for an old school video camera! I thought it would be nice to have space for extra lenses that I don't have but decided compact was better. It's not the fanciest bag and is totally boxy but for about $20 it has already served its purpose.







I started with a box and some one inch high density foam. I glued the foam to the inside of the box with upholstery spray (glue). The foam extends above the box, which you can totally see if you look closely. I used a faux leather from Home Fabrics for the exterior and a lightweight upholstery fabric (also from Home Fabrics) for the interior. I love that I can set my camera inside without the lens sticking up or down. I added two pockets that are perhaps too big and a metal snap closure. This was my first time sewing with faux leather and it wasn't too tricky. I used a heavy duty needle and didn't pin it b/c I didn't want holes in the material. The leaves were already sewn onto the fabric. I like that I can wipe it clean. :) And maybe it doesn't scream "I'm a camera bag, steal me!"

Here it is in action:



Also, here.

A Little Bit of Fleece Sewing and Cheater Buttonholes

I found these darling fleece ear warmers on Kalleen's blog, At Second Street. What a clever idea!

Source: atsecondstreet.blogspot.com via Emily on Pinterest

I used one of my own fleece ear warmers as a pattern and like that it is slightly larger where the ears are. I like the proportions of her flowers better. I also like the idea that it's adjustable without velcro, like my original. The velcro gets stuck in my hair, which is pretty annoying.







And another coat, this time with a collar, using Simplicity 2526. I did end up hemming the sleeves up a bit b/c they were longer than anticipated but didn't get another picture b/c we were in a hurry to bring the coat to Ansley's friend. I do want to make Ansley a cream one, fully lined with light blue whale minky fabric. It'd be so comfy and perfect for Project Run and Play's Outerwear week but since I haven't started and it's due in less than 36 hours, that probably won't happen. hahaha.





Cheater button holes, aka my favorite kind of button hole:
Cut the slit in the fabric first, then zigzag the edges (using a wider stitch along the width of the button hole, then a very narrow zigzag at the ends of the button hole (or just tack it down). Works great b/c fleece doesn't fray. I haven't tried it with other fabrics yet.

Can You Do the Can-Can?

Coming back from a vacation is always a bit depressing, but especially coming back from somewhere sunny and warm (and not windy!).





I had to make another can can skirt using Dana from MADE's pattern. The best thing about this skirt is that my dad cut half of the strips for me. Awesome, huh? I cut a bunch during our LOTR marathon December 30th and 31st but didn't cut enough. My mom's machine is faster than mine and ruffles the fabric tighter than mine, which is fine, just a bit unexpected since my mom and grandma bought theirs around the same time and they're almost identical models. I guess my grandma's has a lot more mileage on it though. :)

Another Great Afternoon at the Beach

A quick trip to the beach the day before we left. The waves were the highest I've ever seen them.

The Happiest Place on Earth

(more vacation pictures :) ).

Also, one of the most crowded places. We hoped to beat the crowds by going after New Years when most people were back at work/school. However, there were large crowds and 70 minute waits until about 10 pm. We tried to take Ansley on as many things as possible, which meant the less popular ones like Snow White (kinda scary with minimal story resolution) and the Casey Jr. Train that I don't think I've ever been on. It was fun to see the Christmas version of Small World and the Nightmare before Christmas Haunted Mansion. Somewhere between the Rockets, Gadget Roller coaster, and Space Mountain, Tyrone lost his keys. We retraced our steps and went to lost and found. I silently prayed that we'd find our keys and felt immediate calm, calm that it would be okay. I didn't know how it would turn out but eventually our keys made it to City Hall. I am so grateful. We had a more fun time once the keys were found and Fantasmic was getting ready to start. The line for Pirates of the Caribbean was nice and short. I love how Ansley would hold onto our arms. Oh and as you can see I did sew the sash on. I sewed the width of it on the side seams and just tacked it down with a few stitches in the front at the bottom of the sash.

The bus from the parking lot to Disneyland.



Checking out the map.



Isaac with a nice looking haircut, perhaps one of my best.



Rockets.



(Ansley was really sad that she couldn't climb out of the rockets by herself b/c other people needed a turn and we didn't have time to wait. Snow White told her not to cry and sadly that was the only princess she "met.")

Waiting for lunch b/c we were all hungry.



The Parade- wish I'd known how much Ansley would like it.





Waiting in line for her first roller coaster. She loved it!















Awesome.



Ansley was so excited to meet Mickey Mouse she ran past all the people into the room. She was very good when I told her she had to wait her turn. She was the only child who wanted to hug Mickey. Her eyes are closed b/c she closes them when she gives hugs.









And then it got dark and I found a better setting on my camera than the one I'd used first, which is good. I will definitely have to practice more.







Love this picture of my parents.



Check out Isaac's awesome face.



Dumbo.



Waiting outside of Pirates.



Wide awake at midnight.



The drive home (to my parents' house) was super quick. Wish we actually lived that close. :)