Pepper Design Blog - Page 44 of 438 - A Little of This & That... Renovating, Decorating, DIY Projects & Family

No Sew Kid’s Apron from a Cloth Napkin

March 9, 2015 by Morgan

When I saw Liz from Say Yes’s no sew kid’s apron from a dish towel I knew that it had to be a future project that I replicated for Liv and Taylor. Such a brilliant and easy idea.

I used her tutorial during our homemade granola party to create miniature aprons for each of the littles, except I upcycled a bunch of cloth napkins that I had on hand rather than purchase new dish towels.

The perfect accessory for a little cooking:

Full disclosure: I wrote this post mostly to direct you over to the step-by-step tutorial for directions. Say Yes deserves all of the credit for this one.

I found that the cloth napkin was just a bit different in shape and size but the end result was pretty spot on. The only area that requires a hem for either the towel or napkin is right at the shoulders and you have the option of sewing, glueing or using stitch witchery (+ ironing) to make this as complicated or as easy of a project as you’re up for. I used a glue gun for everything (but I also haven’t washed it yet).

Wouldn’t these little aprons (which took 2 minutes each) be a fun gift? Perfect for cooking, painting, gardening… they would be adorable as themed present kits, maybe: watercolor paints + apron, mini gardening gloves + apron, plastic measuring spoons + apron.

I so wish that the below photo was in focus because these nuggets are so adorable all together sporting my set of cloth napkins.

Happy start to your week :).

An Easy Homemade Granola Recipe

March 5, 2015 by Morgan

Granola is one of my favorite foods. So great as an afternoon snack, with yogurt and fresh fruit in the morning, or even drizzled in honey as a sweet treat. We made personalized little batches of granola recently with Liv’s friends.

Every Thursday morning I get together with a few of my girlfriends and their kids and we lead a preschool lesson. We call it our co-op preschool and it is one of my weekly treasured times (it’s also part of my village – these ladies are so much more than just playdate pals). Working or maternity leave, I try to make sure that I reserve Thursday mornings for these lessons. It hasn’t always been easy but it’s so worth it!

I wasn’t sure I’d capture the latest lesson that I led at our home (we rotate) on camera – it’s always a little chaotic when you’re on teaching duty with lesson prep and the wild hands of eight little children everywhere, but I did manage a few pictures and thought I’d share them with you. Especially since our class produced excellent homemade granola AND a little no sew kids apron that is super easy to replicate (more on that soon).

I decided to talk high level nutrition with the littles. We discussed ‘grow strong food’ and how it’s important to fill our bodies with what fuels it. I had previously collected a selection of grocery store bin goodies (dried cranberries, golden raisins, blanched almonds, sunflower seeds and even mini chocolate chips) and we passed the dishes around the circle sampling each.

Then we filled small flat ramekins with prepped but not baked granola (recipe below) and everyone chose what toppings they wanted to mix in. Snack and learning in one.

Homemade Granola

Ingredients

5 cups old fashioned rolled oats
¼ cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
½ cup honey or agave syrup
½ cup vegetable oil
dried fruit and nuts

Instructions

Preheat oven to 300.
In a large glass bowl mix oats, nuts, dried fruit, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon. In a one cup measuring cup, pour honey or agave and vegetable oil together so that they are mixed, then pour measuring cup contents into rolled oats mixture.
Spread mixture out on a backing sheet lined with parchment paper, bake for 20-25 minutes and allow to cool (during the cooling process the crispy granola will clump and hardened).

A note on agave vs honey: honey is easy and probably in the cupboard, but agave behaves so much better in the whole mixing process (we also keep it on hand as a honey substitute). Completely up to you!

Between my junior and senior year of college two of my girlfriends and I spent five weeks in Europe. We were on such a tight budget that we could afford maybe one meal a day while hopping around from country to country (and that was most likely salami and a loaf of bread), and so I planned in advance and brought with me a GIANT bag of homemade granola. Literally survived off of it for weeks on end. Amazing trip – but I can’t say I’d do it that way again! And it took me a while to warm up to the delicious snack again afterwards :).

PS homemade maple oat bars (since we’re talking oats) and a slightly fancier breakfast recipe.

6 Weeks, Sweet Marley Marie

March 3, 2015 by Morgan

Dear Marlowe, you are just over six weeks old and I feel as though newborn-ness is slipping through my fingers. All of a sudden you are a baby and not just a newborn. You feel so big to me already (though I’m sure the rest of the world still see’s the teeny tiny you) and I want it to all slow down.

You have not finished adjusting to this new world. I might even guess that it’s not at all what you expected and that you’re a little wary of it (pure speculation on my part but your discontentment is sometimes too obvious :)). We are figuring it out together though and my greatest moments are when you gaze up at me and suddenly you are still, quiet, safe.

These past six weeks have been a blur. Possibly the most exhausting six weeks of my whole life. But for that I love you immensely. Our life just wouldn’t be the same without you, crazy or not.

I look forward to the day that I can say ‘ah-ha! we’ve figured it out, this whole family of five thing’, but until then sweet girl, know that I am so over the moon for you. For your coos, your cries, your gazing eyes, your long fingers, your strong grip, your first smiles, your sweet scent.

One favor to ask though… for the love of God, please stop growing so quickly. I want to remember this, all of this. xo mom

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