Lizzie's Tin

School uniform sewing

lizziestin — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:51:19 +0000

When we first moved the Z-girl to public school from private, I was so excited about the idea of uniforms. I grew up in a town with only one public school and a Catholic school. For some reason, I loved the Catholic school uniforms and spent so much time wishing we public kids wore them, too. Now that I have to deal with the reality of uniforms, I’m less enamored. I still love the notion of equality when all the kids wear more or less the same thing. The problem is that kids grow and stores don’t re-stock. So, I’m sewing a khaki jumper when I’d rather be sewing her a fancy schmancy dress. Pics tomorrow, hopefully!

Resolutions that aren’t exactly

lizziestin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:44:15 +0000

My wonderful husband and I were talking New Year’s Resolutions and when I declared mine, he declared surprise, mostly because we’ve never talked about them before. Of course, now it’s mid-January and I’m just now creating a post about them (partly because I’ve decided to add this blog to the list of resolutions that aren’t exactly).

He, for the record, said that he wasn’t going to make any. Then, after grocery shopping yesterday, he, in fact, made a resolution – a family one, not tied to the New Year. He wants to try one new meal every week. Wow. Okay, that’s awesome. He has come a long way since I met him in college, at which point he had never intentionally eaten sauce and had never tasted lasagna. Ditto for Asian food, German food, French food (not counting pommes frites). Very exciting, even if I do suspect the idea originated with a late-night viewing of Julie and Julia.

My resolutions are 1. to sew something at least once a month and 2. initiate a one-touch philosophy in life and just added this morning is 3. post something here every day, even though I know it’s quite likely no one will ever see it. Just because.

Resolution #1 is important to me because I love to sew, but have, in the past, let so much time lapse between projects that I actually had to get out my manual and re-learn how to thread the dang thing. And that’s just embarrassing, even if I am all alone when it happens. Resolution #2 is meant to keep the desk and mind clear. I have set aside a time every morning to clear my e- and voice-mail boxes. Address the issues that come up immediately in that designated time. Then, check off the task list. And if an announcement needs to go out in three weeks, but I have time to write it today, it will get done today. Check. At home, that means cleaning up at the end of each project and no moving of stacked items. So far, I’m about 85% there on both.

I’ll post pics and instructions of the sewing and cooking on the off-chance someone stumbles upon this page.

Dreaming of a handmade Christmas

lizziestin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:25:44 +0000

Any cash someone planned to put in my stocking (or spend at a soulless department store) should be deposited directly here: Sprout Studio. Thank you, Santa.

Hot cocoa of the non-deceptive variety

lizziestin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:28:03 +0000

When I picked up Z from school today, she limped to the car with a ~~(~~maybe~~ twisted)~~ twisted and swollen ankle. It was clear whether it hurt really badly or not, she was looking for a little extra love. She curled up with a sketchbook and requested hot cocoa, but “not like the last time because it was just too much.”

That’s because last time I followed the recipe in Deceptively Delicious, which includes a special ingredient. ST and I actually love it and I would lick the pan if not for fear of burns. Apparently, however, she was onto my shenanigans. So, this time, I brought out the special reserve (gifted) chocolate – the Colombian Corona brand. No one needs a hot cocoa recipe, but if someone does … this is the easiest. One segment of the Corona plus two cups milk heated and stirred over medium heat plus plenty of marshmallows should do the trick.

Oh, and the milk in the picture is really too good. Z was really excited last week when we heard a story on NPR about our milk (well, the milk we buy). And we’re here to testify to the Dairy Evangelist’s claims. Z can tell the difference when we give her anything else.

Blackberry hand pies

lizziestin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:11:34 +0000

The banner image is of one of my favorite summertime desserts and a winter treat taking advantage of the crazy amount of blackberries I put in the freezer. I searched for a recipe and couldn’t find exactly what I wanted, so I improvised using my standard pie crust recipe (1 1/4 C. flour/6 T. butter/3 T. cold ice water and a pinch of salt). I rolled out the dough normally, cut into small circles using a juice glass and filled with blackberries I had simmered in a little sugar. Put the berries right in the center, then fold the dough over and crimp edge lightly with a fork dipped in flour. Fry. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with sugar while still hot. Yum!