Summer sewing..but no pictures --yet :)

I have been doing some sewing in the past few weeks -- I have two tops which just need hemming, and have a completed maxi dress which I love and need to now wear. I just need to take pictures to post. Why is hemming such an onerous task? The project is almost completed, almost wearable but it just needs that pesky hem... Anyway. We are on vacation this week, and are packing today to leave for Washington DC tomorrow. My boys are excited, even my 14 year old ( apathy is such hard work!) They haven't done much this summer, which has been their choice, so we have been struggling to think of where to take them for a few days prior to the start of school next week. My husband and I went to DC before we had kids and we loved it -- the history, the museums, the political intrigue. Should be a great vacay. Oh, and we are staying in a hotel suite with a full kitchen to manage Son 1's food allergies, and there is a Whole Foods 2 blocks from the hotel so this should be a piece of cake!!

I will leave you with some yummy food pics, and should have some sewing pics for my next post. Chocolate Chip cookies sans dairy, egg and nuts. And again, I will post the recipe if I get a request.


Steph

Dairy,Egg,Nut Free Sticky Buns

My oldest son, who is now almost 15, has food allergies. He was diagnosed as a baby with dairy, egg, then later with peanut and nut allergies. This issue has by far been my biggest obstacle to overcome as a parent. When you think about how often we eat, where we eat, and with whom we eat, one can begin to appreciate how difficult this can be. This touches every aspect of our lives.Essentially, most food he eats has to be prepared from scratch. There are almost no convenience foods I can buy that are safe for him.We rarely go to restaurants. We rent condos or private homes for our family vacations instead of eating out at restaurants 3 times a day - not the worst thing in the world, but I do need a break away from it with just my husband where we can eat where we want for a few days. Now in high school,there are no meals he can eat at the cafeteria ( gone are the days when french fries were on the menu every day).Thankfully, I was taught how to cook and bake by my mother and grandmother, as dealing with his allergies required reconstructing most recipes and dishes.Casseroles were out. Butter, milk, cream, cheese and eggs all had to be substitued with another ingredient. Lots of trial and error went into my recipes.Having said all this, I love finding recipes on the net which meet my criteria, or are simple to substitute ingredients with. This is one that I found: Sticky Buns!! He loved them, and they are not hard to make. I will post pictures, but not recipes unless I receive a request for it. Maybe when I have some followers - lol.

Don't these look good? Soo easy too...

Again, if anyone wants the recipe, just contact me or leave a comment and I will send it your way.

Happy Tuesday!


Steph

McCalls 6078--- Leopard print top

Just putting my feet up after a very busy week. I was a single mom for part of it as my husband left for Toronto for work Monday and returned late Wednesday night. Luckily for me, the boys activities wound down so I had some time for me after work - Zumba!! I love the classes I attend, and work up such a great sweat, I have never sweated as much doing any other workout. Awesomesauce!

 This is a top I made in the spring of this year, I loved the New Look cowl top, but wanted one with more substance, and came across this McCalls version. It sewed up fairly easily, and didn't take too long, as I recall. It is fairly long in the body which is fine with me as I am long waisted, and am finding that I need to add some length. Funny, as I am not tall, about 5'4".

This will work with a cardigan overtop in the fall and winter months so it stays in my closet all year round.

I find my sewing gets better with each garment made, so I am trying to be patient with myself and know that a year from now, clothes I make should look pretty good. Great goal for me!

I currently have another cowl top, kind of a wild burnout fabric. One of the girls in my Zumba class the other day had layered a RTW cowl neck top over a little tank, and it looked so cute, I thought I would try my hand to see if I could come close to replicating it. Hoping to finish it this weekend and then will post the pictures.

Happy Weekend,

Steph