Happy Halloween my Pretties (McCall's M6332)

Happy Halloween!!!!

I love this holiday! Don't understand who would limit the fun to one day a year?!

I plan on hitting up the stores for clearance candy tomorrow =)

 

So my Halloween dress was a hit! I felt super cute in it and all my friends love it.

I used McCall's M6332 in view A
 

 This was my first time making anything with a pocket. I did have some trouble figuring out the construction of the pockets and had to seam rip a few times but in the end I managed.
 

 I estimate total construction from cutting the pattern to sewing the hook and eye was 6-8 hours.

 

I adore everything about this dress!

Here are some detail shots for you...
 

The halter ties in a bow in the back.

 



I lined the top with the same orange I used for the pockets. I love how it makes the bow pop.

 

My first time wearing my new shoes. They didn't feel new at all. no breaking in required. And super cute! What more could a girl want?

I wish I was having  more fun tonight but I must get back to my studies. I have some Literature homework due tomorrow that is calling  my name...

 

 

xoxoxoxo

Lily Bean

Yummy Peanut Butter Cookies

Hi there! This weekend I made some peanut butter cookies.

Here is the recipe. I used crunchy peanut butter and it came out great. This household loves crunchy peanut butter =)

This recipe made 2 dozen cookies

What you need:

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup butter softened

1/4 cup shortening

1 egg

1 1/4 cup flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven at 375

Beat sugar, brown sugar, peanut butter, butter, shortening, and egg.

Mix in flour baking soda, baking powder, and salt

Make dough balls about 1 inch wide place 3 inches apart on a cookie sheet.

 

Use fork to smash down making criss cross design  

 

Bake for 10 mins or until golden brown at the edges
 

 

For my second dozen I added 1 semi sweet chocolate chip to each center

 

Oh boy!! These won't last long so enjoy them!

 

Are you ready for Halloween?? I am so excited! I debut a new dress tomorrow =)

 

XOXOXOX

Lily Bean, Halloween Queen

 

 

 

The Universe has got my Back (Simplicity 2183)

Hi everyone!

Wow 2 posts in 1 weeks following 2 new garments sewn

I'm on a roll!

Instead of taking a nap after work today I decided to hit up my sewing machine again.

 

I have had this planetary fabric for so long but wasn't sure what to make with it until tonight.

I made a vest from Simplicity 2183.


 

I did not have any trouble but didn;t follow directions 100%

I will admit, I have no idea how to sew lining to a top and flip it. So I sewed the lining to the vest as one big piece then flipped it all and sewed up the side seams after.

 

(Funny thing... as I was typing that I think I made sense of it in my head haha. Next time I will try following that direction properly)

 

I was actually working off of View E but decied to hold off on adding the sleeves because I think I love it just the way it is. So now it looks like View A but it is fully lined and I have sleeves just in case I should change my mind.

(Do you think the sleeves will up the awesome of over do it?)

 

Any how, I finished just in time to watch American Horror Story and now it's time to get to bed. I have a very long day of work and school ahead of me tomorrow

 

XOXOXO

Stashbusting Lily Bean

This Shirt Even has Sleeves! (Simplicity 2364)

Hey there! Well I finally did it! I stopped to sew.

I am 99.9% finished with my dress (which means all I need to do is add a hook and eye about the zipper). I will definitely be wearing it to my induction to Phi Theta Kappa in a few weeks. (I will take pictures that night since I will be all done up)

Monday's are always my busiest day starting at 6AM and going non-stop until 8PM with work and homework. By the time I got home yesterday I decided my brain was spent and I would not be doing any homework. I needed a break! I needed to go to my happy place. So I looked through my fabric stash and decided to make a shirt.

Not just any shirt, but my first shirt, and my first time dealing with sleeves.

I probably only spent $2 to make this shirt because I got the fabric VERY cheap

 

I chose Simplicity 2364, view A and it took me about 3 hours from starting with cutting the pattern pieces from the package to finishing the shirt. I didn't get to bed until 1 in the morning but I felt it was worth it

 

I didn't have any trouble reading or following in the directions for the assembly. I don't have a serger but did just fine with my sewing machine.

 

Here's a few detail shots:

 

 

 

 

xoxoxoxox

A very happy Lily Bean
 

 



I Want to be a Stepford Wife

Howdy! I have never watched the movie The Stepford Wives until last night.

When I study and do homework I always need to have background noise, usually a movie. So I put on Stepford Wives and was already hooked at about 20 minutes in.

I adore the clothes and think Glen Close is too cute!

Makes me want to drop what I am doing and go sew.

 

I am supposed to be working on my Halloween costume (1 1/2 weeks left) but for some reason I am just not feeling it anymore... Maybe I will just wear some of my wings that day and be a mermaid next year.

 

Since I am limited on free time these days I feel like when I get a chance to sew I would rather it went to something I can wear everyday.

 

Plus, I need to have my dress finished by November 9th because I have to attend an induction ceremony. I can't show up in a mermaid skirt =P

 

So, about that induction ceremony... I have some great news! A few weeks ago I received a letter from my Community College saying I am invited to join Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. I accepted and will be officially inducted on November 9th. I want so badly to be wearing my own dress that night.

 

I am so proud that my hard work in school is paying off. I have no shame in my being a nerd and can't wait to wear the PTK regalia at graduation in 2 years.

 

I am half way done with my current semester, only 8 weeks left.

 

In other academic news, my Penny graduated from beginner courses at Petsmart dog school yesterday!

  

I'm so proud of my girl! She really has made so much progress.

 

She also seemed to be very proud of herself. She knew she did well.

Her teacher gave her a congratulatory toy and when we got home she squeaked it all around the house for an hour (which is abnormal for her.) She was really happy!

My Theadora is also an "alumni" of Petsmart beginner classes. She graduated back in 2010, before I ever started this blog.


 

well... off I go, back to homework

xoxoxo

Lily Bean and my latest graduate, Penelope
 



Simple Chocolate Chip Cookies

Hey everyone. Today I stopped working and studying for a moment to bake some cookies.



I have been craving homemade chocolate chip cookies for at least two weeks.
So whipped up a dozen.

  

You will need:

1/2 cup butter (1 stick) softened
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup semi sweet choc chips

 

Mix together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until creamy.

Beat in the vanilla and egg.

In a separate bowl mix the flour, baking soda, and salt and then add this to the main bowl and mix it all together .

Add in the chocolate chips and mix well

 

Scoop heaping tablespoon fulls onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper


 

Smash the scoops so they are not round balls.

 

Put in an over at 375 for 13-15 mins or until edges are golden brown

 

Remove promptly to a wire rack to cool.
 

Enjoy!!
 

 

xoxox

Lily Bean Chocolate Chip Queen

Crescent Cinnamon Rolls

Hi everyone. I was just looking at my blog trying to find my recipe for cinnamon roll filling and frosting when I realized i never wrote up about my crescent roll cinnamon rolls.

so here is it

i found it on pinterest and it is from The Hungry Housewife.

what you need:

1 tube crescent rolls

7 tbsp butter

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup and 2 tbsp powdered sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla extract 

first make your filling:

mix 5 tbsp butter, softened

1/4 cup white sugar

and 2 1/2 tsp cinnamon together in a small bowl

unroll your crescent rolls and lay them on a cookie tray

spread your filling on your triangles

 roll the crescents

bake at 375 for 10 minutes

 make your frosting:

mix 2 tbsp butter melted

1/4 cup and 2 tbsp powdered sugar

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

*filling may spill over during baking. i just broke off and ate the pieces

 when the rolls come out of the oven put some frosting on them

usually you would put the frosting in a sandwich bag and snip a corner so you can glaze them. i however didnot have any sandwich bags

so i just spread the frosting on with a spatula

didn't look as pretty but tasted good just the same 

 

these were not my prettiest creation but man! they were tAAAAAAsty

 

xoxox

Lily Bean

p.s.

this is my "Hitchcock Starlet" look =P



Paper Chain Countdown!!

Hi everyone! Wow this is my 3rd post in a week! how did i manage that haha

I have always loved countdowns, i feel they make the wait more exciting. i love the suspense of anticipation... for something good to come of course haha. i still remember being introduced to paper chain countdowns as a child and falling in love with the simple paper craft.

about a month ago i made a paper chain countdown to graduation which should happen end of May or beginning of June 2014

when i was tearing of the "September 2012" ring yesteday i realized i never took a picture to show you all... possibly because its so juvenile and simple lol

but then i thought it'd be fun to snap a picture on the first of every month and watch the chain shrink and chronicle it here (along with the rest of my life)

20 rings left on the chain... until i get to the last one that says "GRADUATION!!!!"

xoxoxoxo

Lily Bean