Feeding Frenzy

So what should you eat and what you do eat after competing in a triathlon can be wildly different things! My husband and I are competing in our first 2010 triathlon this Saturday!  We are fortunate to have a YMCA that holds a Winter Race Series of triathlons throughout the winter months to keep us spry!  We had one in late November, we'll have this one on Saturday, then another in March.  They gradually increase in distance and intensity; this next race will consist of a 300meter swim, 18K bike ride, and finishing up with a 5K run.  It sounds like a lot, but this goal is easily attainable with persistence! 
So, back to what we're eating after the race. We've decided that since we're having company we'll be serving my favorite (and my own) recipe that we affectionately call "Stuffed Breads", they're actually Strombolli, but we like the other name in our house!
Here is the recipe, it isn't lowfat, lowcal, or low taste!  So use it only after completing a race, just kidding, but this is a fun family recipe!  So I hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients: 3/4 jar Roasted Bell Peppers, 1 small jar Artichoke hearts,1 small can Chopped black olives, 1 tsp. EVOO, 1 tsp. Pampered Chef Italian Seasoning (or your own, I just love the PC stuff),  unbaked pizza dough - enough for 2 pizza's  (I make my own, but you can use some thing like Pillsbury refrigerated), 1/4 pound Provolone Cheese,  1/4 pound Genoa Salami, 1/4 pound Pepperoni

 Preheat oven to 475 degrees Fahrenheit. Place Roasted Bell Peppers, Artichoke Hearts, and black olives in a bowl and stir in EVOO. Sprinkle Italian seasoning and salt to taste. Let stand while preparing dough. Roll 1/2 of dough into a 12inch wide by 15inch long rectangle. Place in preheated oven for 4-5 minutes. Remove from oven and layer 1/2 of the cheese over the dough to cover surface, repeat with 1/2 of Genoa salami and 1/2 of pepperoni. Spread 1/2 of artichoke mixture on top of meats and cheese. Fold dough into thirds starting from a 12inch side. Repeat process with second half of dough. Brush each sandwich loaf with butter and bake for 10-12 minutes or until dough is cooked. Let sandwich loaves stand about 8 minutes and cut into 1 1/2 inch wide slices. Serve warm.

Well I have been trying to blog at least every Friday.  I am hoping to put up a tutorial on (my version of) a crayon tote (see previous blog).  Be looking for that to come.  I have been a bit busy lately trying to fill a lot of orders both through the store and locally.  I had hoped to have some Valentines stuff to offer, but alas, it looks like my bags have booked me.  I do have some fun summery stuff planned, though. I'm going to add a new dress and revisit an older pattern that I haven't used in awhile!  I'm excited!
Another reason I'm busy right now is because I am getting a certification through the YMCA to be a fitness instructor!  I have been substituting for several spin classes (indoor cycling) and have now been provided with the opportunity to gain the certification!  I hope to eventually branch into aqua aerobics and maybe Zumba!  I am really enjoying this class, but I can't wait to get back to sewing on Monday!!!

I am a long-time advocate for healthy lifestyles! I currently use my time to train regularly for triathlons, I encourage you to find your niche.  Here are some links I'd like to share for motivation, Enjoy!

http://eattolivelivetorun.wordpress.com

http://www.dailymile.com 



http://www.eatright.org/Public/

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/

This Christmas a friend from church and I decided to exchange talents!  She is a Wiz with the crochet needles and I love to sew!  So, we decided to do a trade.  I made her precious little boys a couple of matching snowman t-shirts and she made my daughter and me a pair of crochet hats (picture coming soon)!

I made these shirts by tracing various objects (ribbon spool, glass, and sewing thread) to make the circles and cutting them out of white fleece (made them more fun to feel).  I made the little hat by eyeballing it out of black felt and the nose out of orange felt.  I did a blanket stitch in white using embroidery thread around the bodies of the snowmen and stitched the hats on by machine.  I did some embroidery stitches for the eyes and mouth.  I wanted to use buttons for the buttons, but since one of the little boys is still small I didn't want to risk him pulling one off and choking, so I used an embroidery stitch in red thread for the 3 buttons. 

This was so much fun for the two of us and I think it's a great idea to do these types of trades if you have crafty friends!

Something for me!!!!

I never make anything for myself.  I say I am going to and then I don't.  Well I saw a blog on this particular pattern and said that when I got my laptop I was doing that bag, well here it is,  a picture of the laptop bag I made for myself. 
The pattern is called Sew Spoiled Laptop Sleeve and Laptop Extras, it is from Sew Spoiled on Etsy and comes in the form of a pdf pattern so there is virtually no wait!!!  I am zipper-challenged and I even managed to do 2 zippers from this pattern!  I chose the small handles so the cover would fit into my laptop bag and I used a smaller zipper on the front pocket than it called for, I also did this because I chose to do the "custom" option on the pattern.  I would recommend being very precise on the cutting and assembling, it will make your outcome much better!  My first attempt at this was not-so-good because I moved too fast and didn't pay close enough attention to my seam allowances/etc.
The fabric is a more boring story, I didn't know what I wanted, but I walked into JoAnn Fabric to purchase some machine needles and ran across this super cute blue and brown fabric and its matching stripes (see inside of bag)!  I used the stripes for the lining and the pocket.  You'll see this fabric turn up again on some dresses in the store!

 

A Little Christmas Cheer!

This is just a little picture of a skirt I made for my angel for Christmas. It's a little long, but that is on purpose...hopefully it'll fit next year! LOVE this little outfit. My mother bought her some pink "cowgirl" boots and she wanted to wear them the whole Christmas weekend...good thing they match the skirt! I made this shirt with a little different coloring (darker green and yellows) for another customer and I liked that better, so I might change that for next year, and add her name.

Let it Snow!!!!

We have been getting a ton of snow lately. Soooo much fun for these Alabama transplants.  These are pics from the first snow fall, it's currently dumping 3-6 inches today! We had 24 inches dumped in 2 days and Samantha and I (and several of the neighborhood kids) found some fun sled hills and spent the day playing outside!

 

And yes, my husband has a tractor.  All this snow is giving him a chance to use it and he is like a kid with, well, a new toy!  In fact a piece of equipment broke on it during the big snow and his eye lit up when he told me he had to use his welder to fix it.  So it's true, the only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys!