A Fun Wedding Gift

My wonderful Auntie recently got married and I knew I had to do something special for her wedding gift! I have always had a special place in my heart for my Auntie we used to visit her all the time when we were kids and she always went above and beyond to make sure we had a wonderful time!

She'd stock her house with goodies, yummy cereal, and fun movies to watch. She was always patient and kind with us (and believe me we gave her reason to lose her patience). There are few people in this world who are as warm and loving as my Auntie!

But as this was a second wedding and she is obviously well established in life she did request no gifts! So I had to be a slightly disobedient niece, I decided that no gifts meant don't buy us gifts. So I was free to make her a few fun things to start her new married life!!

I went pretty simple and filled a small basket with some of my crochet hand towels and wash cloths then.... Totally forgot to take a picture!! Yeesh. So here is a picture of one of the items that was in my basket.

They are one of my favorite things to make and give Crochet Scrubber Wash Cloths! (They are also available for purchase here) Love them!

Here's hoping she enjoyed them too!

Summer Sangria

Summer is full of so many good things! There's the sunshine, beaches, beach reads, fresh fruit, gardening, and of course lounging outside on the patio!
I love when I can sit outside in my backyard with some good eats, a pitcher of sangria and just enjoy the day!

Yum! Doesn't it just look so refreshing and delicious? Sangria is a perfect summer drink and it is so easy to make!! I love making it when I have company coming over because it is always a hit!
I have two standard Sangria recipes that I use 1 for red wine and 1 for white wine.

White Wine Sangria
1 bottle cheap white wine
(seriously don't waste your money on the good stuff! It won't taste anywhere near as good!)
1/2 a pear sliced
1/2 a golden delicious or granny smith apple sliced
1 Tbs sugar
1 shot liquor of your choice
(in this case I used coconut rum but really just go with what you love!)
ginger ale or 7up to your taste
(I usually use cans and just add it to the cup when I pour so it doesn't go flat if I don't finish it)

And voila a beautiful summer beverage!! If you can make your sangria (without adding the ginge rale or 7up) at least a half hour ahead of time so the flavors can mingle! But really the more time it's mixed and sitting in your fridge the better it'll taste! When I know I'm going to have some company I'll often make it the night before or morning of and have it ready in the fridge when my guests arrive.

Red Wine Sangria

1 bottle cheap red wine 

(seriously don't waste your money on the good stuff! It won't taste anywhere near as good!)

1 lemon sliced

1 orange sliced

1 Tbs sugar

1 shot liquor of your choice 

(I have used crown royal, rum, vodka honestly whatever I have on hand and it always tastes good so use what you have or think would taste good!)

ginger ale or 7up to your taste

(I usually use cans and just add it to the cup when I pour so it doesn't go flat if I don't finish it)

Now these are just two versions of sangria, you can be so creative with this drink! I have used strawberries, cherries, raspberries, peaches, nectarines and they have all come out lovely! So play around with it until you find the perfect recipe for you!!

It's Time to Start a Brand New Quilt!

When I went shopping for my last quilt's backing (read all about my first quilting adventure here) I actually bought a bunch of fabric to start my next quilt!! But I decided there was no way I could start a new quilt until I finished my first one! Otherwise the first one would never get done and I would start myself on the cycle of forever starting new quilts and leaving half finished projects in my wake!

Well.... I finished my first quilt a few weekes ago!!! Check it out!! Isn't she lovely??

I did actually quilt it myself, very simply. I just did stitch in the ditch which is fancy way of saying I just followed all the seams I already had. Much like tracing a picture. I also did the binding by hand! Any experienced quilter would be able to pick out a few of my mistakes and see that I was quite new at this but I figure practice makes perfect!

So now I get to start another one!!!! And I'm so excited!!!

Here are the fabrics that I picked out on my last shopping expedition!!

Blues and Grays!!

I think it's going to be just lovely when it's finished but I still haven't quite settled on the style of quilt I'm going to do! I'm kind of tempted to do a whole quilt of 9 square patches (something kind of like these) but then I think perhaps I should challenge myself a little more? But I do like the simple repeating design...

What do you think? Nice and simple or look for a challenge??

Delivering a Little Summer!

I have some wonderful friends and family, I'm sure we all do! But if you're like me then not all of them live close to you! Some of my friends and family live a plane ride away! I'm thankful we live in an age where the internet, facebook, and email exist so that I can keep in touch with all those near and dear to me.

But evey now and then you gotta enjoy the vintage means of communication! I'm talking of course about snail mail!! Yes the good old post office!!!

You have to admit there is something special about receiving something from a friend in the mail whether it be a handwritten letter or a fun package full of goodies!!

One of my friends lives in the same city as me yet she still takes the time to every so often send me a letter in the mail and it always brightens my day!!

So this summer I decided to send a couple of packages to my sisters who live far away! I thought it would be fun to send them a small package full of all the fun things we associate with summer!! Here's what ended up in the box:

-A couple packages of lemonade

-A fun beach read

-Bubbles

-Some fun summer themed candies

And some other fun odds and ends!

I recently heard from both sisters that they got their fun summer gift packs and they both loved it!!

Sucess!!

Have any of you sent someone something lovely in the mail just because you can?