Cookbooks

Thankful Thursday feature - Cookbooks.

Yes, I know in away cookbooks are old fashioned. I know that I could go to the internet and pull up a million and one ways to cook chicken, but I just love a good cookbook. I like to flip the pages and see the wonderful dishes that are pictured. (If only my versions could end up that pretty.)

I have fond memories of my mom using her favorite cookbook to bake our favorite Christmas cookies, and weeknight dinners. I learned from my mom to make notes beside the recipes that you try. She would note if her family liked a recipes or not, who liked it more, and if she could possibly substitue ingredients. If you were to look at my cook book you could tell by the splatter stained pages which recipes are used, and which cookbooks are used the most.

The Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book was one of the first ones I received when I got my first apartment. I love it. Since receiving this cookbook I have collected many, many more. When Bo and I go on a trip I usually purchase a local cookbook with local flavor. I made sure that I got one when we went to Hawaii, but most of the recipes are to daunting to make.

Do you have a favorite cookbook?

Bottom Band

This is fourteen hours worth of work! Next, I'll attach this to the skirt and then it's time to start working on the top of the dress. (I placed a red tablecloth under it so you could see it better.)

Graduation Dress Update

I worked on Lizzie's graduation dress last night, but I didn't have time to take pictures. I will post some tonight.

Mary Dee

Today, I have a Children's Corner, Mary Dee, jumper that I made several years ago. I believe it is a size six, and I can't remember what smocking plate I used.

This is the back of the dress. I love that the back crosses. The Scottie Dog buttons are just the finishing touch.
The smocking plate was one of my first picture smocking plate that I have done. I found it pretty easy.

What I learned from this project was when smocking in a dark color for picture smocking. But if you forget you can always color in the white fabric on the plate with a Sharpie that matches the stitching. I'm not kidding you - Sharpies are wonderful sewing tools.

Twins

I fell asleep on Wednesday night early so I decided that I would post two smocked outfits tonight to make up for it. They are boy and girl matching day gowns. I love the fabric, it is just so sweet.

The back of the boys day gown.

Back of the girls day gown. The day gowns together.

Thankful Thursday

In light of this weeks signing of the stimulus package, I thought it would be appropriate if this weeks Thankful Thursday feature would be Dave Ramsey and his Financial Peace University. Because we followed his program Bo and I are debt free except for our house. YEAH!

Before Bo and I got married we went to a mandatory, by our church, marriage counseling. The counselor told us he thought we had it together, but he would still suggest that we go to a financial class together. Our church offered Financial Peace University. I had to eat my words of, “If Dave Ramsey wanted me to be out of debt he would not charge me $90.00 to take his class.”, and we signed up.

I’m thankful that Dave Ramsey gave Bo and I topics to talk about and sometimes he gave us a common enemy. Sometimes when we wanted to do things we knew that Dave would disagree with we would get mad at him instead of each other. Bo and I now have quarterly business meetings. We also learned that we like to eat out a lot, visit Publix, and that Christmas comes the same time each year.

I’m thankful that both Bo and I were open to the ideas that Dave Ramsey expresses, that we also are able to talk to each other about our finances, and that we mostly agree on how we should spend our money. I’m also thankful that Dave has Debt Free Fridays on his radio show. Hearing people scream, “We’re debt free” brings so much hope and joy into my life.

I don’t take anything for granted in the economic market, and I have mentioned to Bo several times I’m so glad that we went to Financial Peace University when we did. I would recommend his program to anyone who is willing to listen.

Adorable

Adorable is the only word that I can think of to describe this diaper shirt. It is a sweet and feminine with small pink flowers and little white smocking at the top. I think I made this about 7 years ago. This has never been tired on by a person, but when my brother and sister-in-laws dog was a puppy she tried it on. I wish I could find that picture.