Smiling Happy People

What a pretty smile! Why doesn't she smile more?

A well deserved win for Christian, though I thought Rami's and Jillian's were also good. Jillian really does jackets well. Rami's gowns looked ready for the red carpet.

Do check out Christian's sister Shannon's blog - Little Bubbles It was fun to read about the Runway Finale party she hosted, complete with a "tent." Creativity runs in their family.

I hope Project Runway Season 5 casts more just-starting-out designers like Christian, and not the already-established ones like Rami. A mix is fine, just not skewed too heavily towards the experienced. If you already have your own store, step aside and give someone else their chance.

Today's Favorite iPod Workout Song

Depeche Mode, "Just Can't Get Enough" 3:44

Sew Subversive/Sew Strange

Saying out loud after flipping all the way through and looking at the back cover -- this is from Taunton?! (The Threads people) Not as much about sewing-sewing as refashioning what's in your closet or at Goodwill. Appealing maybe to the 19-20 year olds. L would not have anything to do with the "fashions" and if you are older or younger and not living in a "cool" city like San Francisco (which is where these people are from), you'll look like an idiot. Such promise. They tried. AlterNation is better. Save $14.95 or wait for Half-Price Books, or look for it at the library - 646.404 Stitch Lounge Presents Sew Subversive Down and Dirty DIY for the Fabulous Fashionista by Melissa Rannels, Melissa Alvardo, Hope Meng 2006 ISBN 978-1-56158-809-1

What the H...?!

All this and a bag of chips

From Whole Foods Market - Frontera Chipolte Roasted Tomatillo Garlic HOT Salsa. 16 ounces, $3.99; goes on sale for 2/$6.00. Guaranteed to clear your sinuses! www.fronterafoods.com

She shoots, she scores!

Crockpot Challenge: Fudgy Peanut Butter Cake

Fudgy Peanut Butter Cake

This turned out great! And worth an extra 15 minutes on the treadmill tomorrow (and the day after, and the day after...!) The peanut butter part was kind of cake-y/sponge-y and the chocolate turned into a fudge-y sauce - I didn't expect that! I also thought 4 servings were very generous - to avoid potential tummy-ache, think 6 servings. It cooked very quickly, a little less than 1 1/2 hours on high. So if you are looking to make a fast dessert in the afternoon for dinner, this will work for you. I also didn't have any problem with the larger 2 1/2 quart size. In fact, I think it helped it turn out prettier and easier to serve - and allowed more real estate access to the chocolate fudge on the bottom.

Our ratings: B+/it goes into the recipe notebook

Life is Fast. Cook Slow. *

Today's Costco run included the rotisserie chicken and spinach salad for dinner tonight. Even with the La Brea demi baguettes for T, I needed a bribe for the tribe. I saw the new Taste of Home Slow Cooker book ($12.99), flipped through for inspiration and found a recipe for Fudgy Peanut Butter Cake. Looked pretty good and I still had some leftover Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla Light Ice Cream in the freezer to go with. This could be a good finish to dinner. It calls for a 1 1/2 quart crockpot...I have a 5 and a 4. And also the new Beth Hensperger Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Recies for Two - For your Small Slow Cooker (1-1/2 to 3 quart). There's lots of good recipes for the 1-1/2'er to justify adding a new crockpot to the family (now one for each of us!). Will report results and rating later tonight.

----------- Update #1

Finding a Rival brand 1-1/2 quart crockpot is hard - Kroger had a 2 1/2 quart and the 16 ounce Little Dipper. The smallest at Bed Bath and Beyond was 4 quart and the Little Dipper. I can see why BBB has those ubiquitous 20% off coupons, their prices are higher-beware! Target had the Chef Mate 1-1/2 quart for $8.99. Sold! Albeit a little cheap looking...and the three boxes on the shelves looked pretty beat up - one was missing the lid, another the directions, the other looked like it fell off the truck.

----------- Update #2

Evidently they all fell off the truck. When I got home, there was a crack in the liner. I was too distracted making sure I had a lid, directions, a heating unit...and didn't check the insert. You definitely get what you pay for with this brand, I can't believe Target sells it. While I thought it seemed cheap at the store, I bought it anyways because Target had it. But on the other positive, can't remember side of the brain - I did buy the Rival 2 1/2 crock pot from Kroger earlier this afternoon, before I had gone to Target and after I had the chance to check the recipe to discover it called for the smaller size. It seems to fit nicely and it's crocking away right now -- smells wonderful!

------------

(*From the Rival Crockpot box)

Got Milk?

Get Girl Scout cookies! Here's an easy cookie booth locator for the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council. I'm sure your local Girl Scout Council webpage will have a similar link, too.

(Thin Mints - eat directly from the freezer - Cool!)

(Samoas - aka "crownbusters")

Today's Favorite iPod Workout Song

Fergie, "Here I Come" 3:21
The Dutchess
(good for a high incline)

Project Runway recapper

Opalescent definitely has one of the most entertaining series of Project Runway recaps, complete with hysterical photoshopped photos! This is the one who did the Project Runway "Class of Season 4 'Yearbook'" picture.

Jo-Ann's Upcoming Pattern Sales

$1.99 Simplicity - March 2-8
$1.99 McCalls - March 13-15
$3.99 Vogue - March 13-15

Hair Apparent

Sadly not! I thought Chris' clothing was a little ookie. I'm with Tim on this one. While I wasn't overly impressed with Rami's collection, if Chris hadn't used the hair (or told us) he would have easily won that round. But if I didn't know it was human hair and instead it was perhaps just a poly fur trim or even fake wig hair, I would have really liked these designs. You can't deny he definitely has talent and vision.

Update on Burda 7876

Cute, cute, cute, cute, cute! The fit, the cut, everything on the trial run of Burda 7876 View B went together so well. I'm off to use some more stash fabric, lining and buttons with a green light ahead. I would even love to make it a second time with a lightweight denim and shove some piping in those seams - I think they are begging for it. And as I mentioned before, you could definitely use the seaming to replicate Laura Bennett's QVC corset jacket details.

Goody Good Housekeeping

Have I turned into my grandmother? My mother? Or maybe Good Housekeeping has turned into a more relevant and entertaining magazine for the younger half of the baby boomer generation? Let's hope for the latter, egads. Each section is prefaced by "Good" as in "Good (enough) Housekeeping, Good Health, Good Buzz, Good Looks, the Goods, Good Food, Good Reads" etc. Here's an example from the "Good House" section -- "Funny Bunny Folds"

Sew Everything Workshop

S.E.W. - Sew Everything Workshop by Diana Rupp 2007, ISBN 978-0-7611-3973-7, Library Call No. 646.2

What an enjoyable book and what a great book to recommend to beginning (and even experienced) sewists! This would be the first one I would give to a friend starting out - followed up by the traditional Vogue and Simplicity sewing books, of course. But this book is fun and will definitely whet their sewing appetite. Diana Rupp's introduction and her stories and tips interspersed throughout are an enjoyable read. While I haven't had a chance to try out the ten patterns -- It's due back at the library and someone else wants it. Always remember to give your local library a trial run for sewing and crafting books. Remember, they are one of the original renewable resources! Unless someone has it on reserve. hahaha, I'm punchy today -- they look appealing and do-able for a wide skill range. Next time I get a good coupon or need some padding for free shipping on a future Amazon order, I'm buying this book!

Go Texan Day!

Today is Go Texan Day and the beginning of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo/RodeoHouston. Click for more details and fun doings!

Simple Gifts to Stitch

"Simple Gifts to Stitch - 30 Elegant and Easy Projects" by Jocelyn Worrall. 2007 $19.95 ISBN: 978-0-307-34756-5 Library call No. 746 With comments of Martha Stewart and Todd Oldham on the back cover, you get an idea these projects might be worthy. Sections are divided into Gifts for Home, Gifts for Baby and Children, Gifts for Special Occasions. I think the book's strengths are particularly strong for cute and unusual projects for children and babies. The Tri Pocket Ticking Tote on the cover and the Magic Rain Poncho are clever. I liked the Modern Apron on page 77 and the Terrycloth Bunny on page 102. The bias apron calls for only 1 yard of 58" wide fabric. The bunnies will be easy and cute to make for Easter basket tuck-ins. There's a good variety of other projects for a range of sewing skills and needs.

Today's and Monday's Favorite iPod Workout Songs

Amy Adams, "Happy Working Song" 2:09
(though probably more suited for housecleaning than the treadmill, but it's bouncy and fun)

True Faith, "New Order" 5:49

Crockpot Challenge - Slow Cooker Spoon Peaches (Peach Cobbler)

This is modified from the Fix It and Forget It page-a-day calendar. . .January 18/19/20 (evidently a weekend!)

a little less than 1/3 cup sugar

a little less than 1/2 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup Bisquick Low Fat baking mix

1 egg

1 egg white*

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 teaspoons unsalted butter, melted

3/4 cup evaporated milk

2 cups peach slices - fresh, frozen or if canned-drained

3/4 teaspoon cinnamon (Penzeys Chinese Cassia)

Combine sugar, brown sugar and baking mix. Add eggs and vanilla, mix well. Add butter and milk, mix well. Add peaches and cinnamon, mix well. Cover and cook on Low 4 hours. Serve warm with Bluebell Light Vanilla ice cream!

Overall, not bad. More sponge-y/cake-y than the usual cobbler biscuit/pie crust dough.

My Grade: B+/a nice alternative to heating up the kitchen in the summer when fresh Texas peaches are abundant!

I also kept the peaches as slices instead of mashed per the original recipe. It also cooked a lot faster than the recipe's 6-8 hours. It took 4 hours in my crockpot and then 1/2 hour on warm.

*The original recipe called for 2 eggs

What's on the (slightly sagging Sew/Fit) cutting table today?

Burda 7876 - View B - a cool vest/corset for L! We spotted and bought this pattern last week. And then last night while watching Laura Bennett's corseted jacket, I thought these details were spot-on with her design. I may have to Frankenstein them into a jacket or blouse for me. So Burda, look at how the back straps are slightly elasticized to stay in place and how the strap width is the same as the piece it joins to in the front. Details, details, details! Popular pattern, too - I had to go two stores to find it.