K-Mart doubling

I was at K-Mart today, something that rarely happens. They are doubling coupons up to $2.00 for this week only-not sure if that is regional or local. That is pretty unheard of. I must say I am now in search of $1.00 and up coupons. I was able to get some baby wipes and baby wash (coupons I had on hand). I would have originally paid $6.29 and had coupons that doubled equaling $5.00. So, I got those items for $1.29. Gotta love a deal.

Paper Globe Tutorial

Here is a tutorial on making the paper globes that another blogger asked for. I must give credit to Heather Bailey and the free template I downloaded from her website. She really has great fabrics and cute ideas for handmade items from paper crafts to sewn items. Her patterns are so fresh and fun and after ordering some fabric myself, I know that you will get your fabric fast and have good service. Okay, on to the tutorial.
Tools:
4-5 sheets of coordinating scrapbook paper
Circle cutter of some kind. I use Fiskars ultra shape xpress and a Fiskars template.
Surface to cut on: self healing mat or cutting board
Glue stick
Bone folder (optional)
Ribbon
Download template and instructions from Heather Bailey.

Step 1:
















Decide the size of circles you want to cut (I would use one of the template sizes first). Cut 20 circles of the same size, different patterns of paper. I usually use 4 papers with 5 circles each.
With the template and cutter it is super fast. With scissors and tracing, super slow. Believe me, I have tried it.

Step 2:

Using the template and the bone folder or fingers fold the circle on 3 sides. This is step really requires a template if you eyeball it, it will be off and your globe won't assemble correctly. I say this because I've tried.

You will fold all 20 like this and have a pile of wonderful folded circles ready to glue together.

Step 3:
I like to assemble the top and bottom first and then the middle. You will use 5 circles for the top, 5 for the bottom and 10 for the middle. For the top and bottom you want to glue the points of the triangles together. This picture should help. You will glue the flaps together.



The middle is a bit more tricky. You will have a line of 10 circles/triangles. You want to alternate each one to make a line. I think this picture will explain a lot better. Then glue it into a circle.

Step 4:
Attach top and bottom to middle. Match up the pieces and glue it all together. It will be so rewarding. I stick the ribbon in before I glue the last piece. You have yourself a paper globe. You can put these on ribbon, on a stick (topiary), in a bowl. Wherever you so desire.

Finished Product:

When you download the template there are be instructions that are helpful as well. I hope you all have fun making these. If you really love them, but have NO desire to make them yourself I have 2 to give away. I will be giving them away (I will even ship them) to the first 2 people to leave a comment and tell me they want one. I would even consider making them for a small price if you have certain colors you want.

"Something good that came out of Canada"

This salad is really simple and really delicious. I often refer to it as, "Something good that came out of Canada." There is a long back story involving a young girl (yours truly), one of her best friends' cousins, and a whirl-wind romance that lead to salmon swimming up stream to die (literally and metaphorically). This recipe is one of the only things that lives on from that time in my life, which I am so grateful for. I still really like Canada a whole lot and would love to go there with my hubby (I think he would really like it). So here is the recipe. Enjoy, eat it fresh if you put the dressing on the whole salad or it gets mushy and weird. Limp, day old spinach is not what you want.

Strawberry Spinach Salad:
1 bag Spinach
1/2 cup sliced almonds-toasted
1 cup ramen noodles(one brick)-toasted or LaChoy asian noodles
1 container Fresh strawberries sliced

Dressing:
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
Salt and Pepper to taste
*Mix well

I like put the strawberries and salad together, put dressing on and then add noodles and almonds, they stick better that way. Or you can have all the fixings out and let people make their own-avoid the mushy leftovers. I have also added shredded chicken to this and it is a hit! The photo above is before I added crunchies or dressing.

Update

I now only have 10 weeks +/- left in my pregnancy. I am feeling bigger all the time and for the first time feel like my body really isn't my own. Our little girl is a mover and seems really active. I enjoy those feelings, though sometimes they are surprising and make me jump or gasp out loud. Last weekend I discovered my first small stretch mark and nearly freaked out! I just hoped I'd be one of those women whose skin was elastic and stayed supple and beautiful throughout pregnancy. I think I have come to terms with it now. I am thankful that I am still able to exercise and sleep through the night (minus the 3 times I wake up to go to the bathroom). Things in the nursery have come to a bit of a stand still. I can't figure out what to do for wall art/other decor. I'm thinking something in the pink family, but that is all I've got. I need some inspiration. I have made a bunch of burp rags for a friend that is having a baby. I made a sweet blanket for our little one. I have also made paper balls to hang above baby's bed (make shift mobile).

Blanket front and back

Burp Cloths pre-sewing
















Paper Globes










I know the next 2 months are going to fly by. We have been taking birthing classes and enjoy learning what our options are for labor and delivery. It is always interesting to meet new people and we have 2 moms-t0-be expecting twins. Amazingly enough our instructor has a set of twins herself. It is really fun to take classes like this with B, he makes it a lot of fun. He has been such a great support to me throughout this pregnancy and I have no doubt that he will be amazing during labor. We are enjoying our first Easter here in town and are sharing a late lunch with some friends. I will be taking the famous strawberry spinach salad that I will post a recipe later for. Enjoy celebrating the resurrection today!