look what mommy made...

I'm sorry, but I just think this turned out sooo cute. The fabric was kind of an impulse buy at Joann's. It was priced at $3.99 (a bargain), but rang in at $2.79 a yard (a screaming bargain). The pattern was $2.99 - Butterick See and Sew #3889 (if you buy this pattern, drop me a comment...I have some tips for you - and there's a mistake on the cutting instructions). So easy and so adorable - for about $7.50! And of course, I'll use the pattern again and again!

i {heart} etsy friday...

...from yellowgoat design...

also check out her blog

the cutest party invitations...

Paigey Poo is turning three and now that I've discovered these adorable {and free} invitation templates from Melissa Esplin online, I can't wait to start planning her party...

are you kidding me???

So...not to toot my own horn, but the other day I invented a pork tenderloin recipe - based on a combination of several recipes - and it was......I kid you not - one of the best things I've ever tasted. The fam agreed. These pictures are not great, but you get the idea. Recipe is below...

Ingredients:

Rub

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

1/4 tsp. cloves

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Glaze

1/4 cup soy

1/8 cup honey

Juice of 1/2 of a large orange

1/2 tsp ginger powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1 garlic clove, minced

1 tbsp brown sugar

Extra honey for drizzling

Rub a large tenderloin with rub mix above, place on a cookie sheet lined with foil, and cook for 15 minutes at 450 degrees. Remove from oven, drizzle lightly with honey. Pour glaze over entire tenderloin, pull the sides of the foil up around the tenderloin so the glaze stays close to the loin, and pop it back in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove from oven, baste the tenderloin, and cook for 10 more minutes. ENJOY!!!

Critters in my chimney...

Saturday night the fam was relaxing on the couch when we heard this strange squealing coming from somewhere in - or around - the house. We tracked it to the fireplace, where we discovered that we have 2 small raccoons in our chimney. We've been trying to get them out...without luck. I even googled "raccoons in the chimney" and discovered that, apparently, this isn't an uncommon thing. Long story short, we haven't heard them today, and can't see them down the chimney, so we think they somehow climbed out by themselves.

Aren't they cute? Maybe we'll keep them...

{ i heart etsy } friday...

Isn't this the best? I love this blue...

from redhotpottery on etsy.com

(I think this one is sold)

How lucky we are...

Want to see what's going on her pretty little head? Click here for a virtual tour of the inside of the Statue of Liberty. Visitors are now allowed to go up tour the inside of Lady Liberty's crown -for the first time since 9/11. How lucky we are!

Pretty...

Really? My last post was Farrah and Michael? How last month!

So I've got this really weird extra room - a "family room" I guess. We call it the library. I know that evokes imagery of a grey haired man smoking a pipe in a wood-paneled room, but it's really just where we keep our books. It's a strange shape - long and skinny with three doorways, a fireplace and an ugly built in "credenza." I've been cruising the net looking for ideas for this room, and thought I’d share some pretty pictures. Once again, I can’t remember where I got most of these pictures. If one is yours, let me know!