Chunky Ribbed Earwarmer

Hello loyal fans!!

Here is the $.99 Chunky Ribbed Earwarmer Pattern as promised!  This is NOT a beginner pattern. You should be familiar with working in front post, back post ribbing.  Have fun & as always I'd love to see pic's of your creations.

Download the pattern on Ravelry HERE

Download the pattern on Craftsy HERE

Half Hat Earwarmer

My Mom needed some earwarmers for her morning walks so what's a dutiful daughter to do? Whip out some stash yarn and make her one! You can download this pattern on Ravelry HERE or Craftsy HERE. Enjoy!!

Grain-Free Brownie Pancakes

I have been reading some articles about going grain-free.  I haven't jumped on this band wagon, but what I have read has inspired my to cut back the grains I am eating, especially wheat.
(If you want to learn more about these ideas I recommend this Blog & this Article.)

I have been cooking regular food with grain alternative ingredients.  Here is a pancake I came up with that is super yummy & does taste like a brownie!  It's good for you too.

This is more of method rather than a recipe.

In one bowl combine 3/4 of a scoop of whey protein powder,  1/2 tsp. baking powder, 2 tbs. coconut flour, 1 tb. unsweeted baking cocoa powder, 1-3 tsp. of sweetener. (I use Truvia because it is all natural) 

In another bowl beat one egg with 2tbs. milk (I use almond or coconut milk), dash of vanilla and a tsp. of oil (I use coconut oil - melted)

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients (as my mama always told me to do).  Add more milk as necessary to get a pancake batter consistency.  Then cook on a griddle or frying pan like your usual pancakes.  They are great alone, or with some berries. I just heat up some frozen berries in the microwave as shown below.


 YUM!! Lots of fiber, protein & healthy fats!  I know they are pretty good because my daughter
asks for them and she never asks for any of my "healthy food"!

This version is made without the cocoa powder and 3 tbs. of coconut flour.  It's more like a plain pancake.

Give it a try and let me know how they turn out!

Chunky Diaper Cover

Here is a new pattern. It's been a long time coming!!!! I hope you all enjoy it.  I haven't been crocheting much lately.  I am not sure why.....  I started working on a few things this week so hopefully there will be more in the NEAR future.

You can download this pattern on Ravelry HERE.
On Craftsy HERE.

Enjoy & thanks for sticking with me!!!

The Skinny Rules Rule

I am always attracted to new diet books.  When you struggle with your weight, it seems you are always looking for new advise that will make a difference.  At least I am.  I picked up The Skinny Rules by Bob Harper at Costco a couple weeks ago. It was worth the $16 I spent on it!

Link to Book on Amazon

I read the book in one afternoon. The first 110 pages are the rules and tips for implementing them.  The rest of the 260 pages are menus and recipes. Which I love!


I started implementing these rules the day after I read the book.  I have to admit, most of them I was doing already.  The few that were new have really helped me fine tune my diet plan.  These rules are simple, but not all are easy.  Here are the rules that I have been implementing that are new to me.

• DRINK A LARGE GLASS OF WATER BEFORE EACH MEAL.  This means snacks as well.  Now, I drink a lot of water, but not this much.  So I have been drinking a 16 oz. glass before each meal and my water intake is up to 10 to 12, 8 oz. glasses a day!

• EAT APPLES & BERRIES EVERYDAY.  This I was not doing at all! I ate fruit only occasionally, thinking the sugar would inhibit my weight loss. Not so, I learned!

• NO CARBS AFTER LUNCH. What???  When I read this my heart sank. No pasta or rice with dinner! I have been following this rule and it has not been so bad. However, the last rule is what makes this rule livable for me.

• MAKE ONE DAY A WEEK MEATLESS. Ok, no biggy for me. I love beans & eggs.

• GO TO BED HUNGRY. This basically means stop eating 3 hours before you go to bed.  I don't like this one either. I love to have a small snack & usually some herbal tea about an hour before bed.  But I have been having just the tea & I am surviving.  I wake up VERY hungry now too! I eat breakfast as soon as I get up, instead of an hour or two later.  I am sure this is boosting my metabolism. 

• PLAN ONE SLURGE MEAL A WEEK. Alright, now this I can do!! I can walk away from any temptation during the week if I know I can have it at a planned time.  Look at me, learning delayed gratification!

So, the bottom line is, how does it work.  Well, in the first week I lost 5 pounds, which is huge for me.  I am not the type who loses that much easily!  Before this, my top weekly loss was 3.5 pounds!  Now I am half way through week 2.  I am very hopeful for this week.  This way of eating has got me over a month long plateau.   

The menus and recipes are simple and tasty. My daughter however, is not happy with them.  They don't exactly appeal to an 11-year-old’s pallet.   Oh, well! She needs to learn to eat something besides mac and cheese & fried chicken.

If you have been thinking about this book, I can recommend it! It’s working for me!

Stick With It Saturday!

Time for Stick With It Saturday with Sam's Noggin.

I am pretty happy with this week's progress.  After losing only 1.5 pounds in 3 weeks, this last week I was able to lose 2 pounds. I think the key has been eating breakfast & drinking water.  I did have a dinner of 2 pieces of pizza and salad. I was working off the theory that once in a while you need to give your body a calorie boost to stoke the fire of your metabolism.  This week it worked, but I wouldn't have done this unless I had been pretty much stuck for a few weeks.  It worked this week, but it is like playing with fire when you do this.  It can backfire on you.  Have I said 'fire' enough in this post? Geez!

Next week I start Phase 2 in Jillian Michael's Body Revolution.  All the workouts change this week and get harder, so I am expected encouraging results.  One thing I can say about this program is that I really feel like I am in better physical condition!  My endurance and strength have improved greatly. I can now do 15 REAL push-ups! In January I couldn't do even one!  

My goal is to lose 2 more pounds over the next 2 weeks.  Hubby & I are going to Vegas and I'd like to be at or pass the 30 pounds lost mark.  If I get there, I will be the thinnest I have been in 12 years.  All that time spent feeling bad about myself for being over weight. Why didn't I do this sooner? Hmmm....  That's a pretty profound question.  I will need to think about that.....

See you next Saturday!

Curriculum Clarity!!!

I have been doing that Spring thing again.  Thinking so much about what we will be doing next year for homeschool that I lose focus on finishing this year!  Luckily we are basically done.  La is finishing up one last project & most of her 3R's (reading, 'riting & 'rithmetic) are done for the year.

So my search began a few weeks ago.  Through prayer & reflection, I knew I needed to look for something different, something with a little more structure.  As I shared on the Homeschool Compass page, I want plans & structure, but I also need a curriculum that is flexible and uses natural methods where subjects are connected instead of compartmentalized.  Also it's important that it be engaging. There should be something fun to look forward to everyday.

I searched around and compiled a list of possibilities.  If you would like to see that list, you can see the Pintrest Board I compiled here.  After thoroughly comparing all these choices, I have come to a clear decision.  Next year we will be using (drumroooooollllllll)

Learn All About This Curriculum Here
Photo from http://www.home-school-curriculum.com/

We are so excited! I have already placed my order & the BIG BOX with all books & supplies arrives tomorrow!  For a few days now I have been saying it will be like Christmas morning when we open it!

I chose this curriculum basically because it checked all the boxes for me!  I simply think I will love everything about it!  If you identify with our Homeschool Compass, I highly suggest you download the samples and check it out!

Ah, the peace of making a decision and knowing it is right.