You Can Can

'Tis the season to be canning around here. I would love to know how many of you do this and love it. I seriously can't think of a more beautiful, fulfilling project. The whole process is full of wonderful smells, beautiful colors and that wonderful feeling of SAVING A LOT OF MONEY.

The "Domestic Diva" side comes out of me every time I do it...for real! It's one of those projects that really isn't hard but brings satisfaction almost every day. I love looking in the cupboards (or above the cupboards in my case) and seeing all of the bottled goodness just waiting to be enjoyed. It seriously brings me so much joy.

I thought I'd take pictures of the process of turning garden tomatoes into beautiful homemade "Ragu" sauce. Enjoy!

I wish I could say that this beautiful bounty is from our garden but after two years of success, this years garden struggled...really struggled. Thank goodness we have a wonderful neighbor who has more bounty than she can handle and calls us every other day begging us to "come and pick". We've been very happy to help her out ;)

Look at these gorgeous tomatoes!!! Oh the beauty!

I used my trusty Blendtec to blend the tomatoes, skins and all into a wonderful sauce and then added some tomato paste to thicken.
This is my Aunt Coralee's recipe with a few little additions of my own!

Just a tablespoon of lemon give them that little boost of acid just to be safe.

Look at all of those crystal clear bottles...soon to be filled

Bath time!

The finished product! Now I can put them on the shelf and
admire them just like little pieces of art! Oh yeah, and eat them too.

This is what happens to Norah when Mom is busy canning and can't save her from her evil twin sisters....Someday she'll get to taste the wonderful sauce and know it was all worth the torture.

Pod Sale

20% Off ! CLICK HERE to get your deal!

Recycled Leather Shoes - Tutorial

I don't know if I should call this a tutorial or a "This is What I Did - Learn From My Mistakes/Successes".

A couple of months ago I had an idea. I wanted shoes for the twins to be able to wear and not wear out quickly. I had purchased some patterns on Etsy and I knew if I could just get leather, they would be more durable and good for extended use. But I didn't want to pay for leather. So I went to my nearest thrift shop and bought some leather handbags for $.75 to $1.50 a piece and "Wha La!" Here is the result:


What I learned:

1. Soft subtle leather works the best.
2. If your leather is more rigid, you can use this for soles on fabric shoes...simply glue (or stitch) it on the bottom of your finished shoe.
3. You NEED a leather needle. This project is impossible (at least with my machine) without one.
4. These make up pretty quickly because you don't have to line them (you can if you want but there really is no need).
5. When cutting your bags apart, try to get as much in one piece as possible (as you are searching for bags at your local thrift shop, look for bags with large pieces of leather and maybe bring your pattern with you to get an idea of how big your pieces need to be).

There are a lot of great shoe patterns on Etsy for pretty reasonable prices. Most can be emailed to you almost instantly (which is nice for a not-so-patient, home-with-babies all day person like me). There are also some great FREE patterns available online. Here is a list:

Stardust Shoes

Kimono Shoes

Baby Lace Ups

Heather Bailey's Bitty Booty's

Three Seam Baby Shoes

On Pins and Needles

Mary Jane Tutorial

Have fun ladies! And if you end up doing this project will you let me know and show me pictures? I am working on finding a big enough bag to make some for myself. How cool would THAT be?

Guest Blogger: Becca from Blue Cricket Design

Becca from Blue Cricket Design contacted me a little while ago and asked if I'd like to take part in what she has named "Freaky Friday". At first I thought she meant switching bodies for the day (what would I give to have those teeth?!) but she just meant switching blogs.

I love her inspiring blog and her sense of humor so I thought I would give you the opportunity to get to know her too. So without further adieu, here's Becca:

I'm Becca!

The gal behind Blue Cricket Design

I'm lucky enough to live a life I love! I've been blessed with a husband who has amazing taste in women, three girls who's adorable smiles make up for their need to write on my furniture and spit up on me all day and of course, a pretty awesome Craft room! What more could a girl ask for! I'm in love with all things vintage, inspiring and lovely! I see things as possibilities! Come see what I've created! I share project ideas, sewing How To's, Photoshop tutorials, kids ideas, decorating tips, recipes and more! And I've been known to have giveaways pop up when you least expect it so check back often!

Here are a few of my favorite projects!

CANNING WITH PIZZAZ!!!

My EVER Popular FURNITURE REFINISHING!!!

PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS TUTORIAL!!!

PAPER FANS!!!

So jump on over to Blue Cricket Design and get inspired!

Tons to see and do and try and LOVE!!!

I can't thank you enough Hannah!!! I love your blog and your fun spirit!!!

Happy CRAFTING ALL!!!!

Hannah here. Thanks Becca for the invitation and for letting us all in on your
awesome blog. Please take care of those beautiful teeth.

It's not easy being green...

Because in our house green means YUMMY!

We've been cranking out the green smoothies with our new Blendtec (and a lot of other wonderful things). I am in love with my Blendtec almost as much as I am with my husband...seriously.

My basic recipe is a little bit of frozen fruit from Costco with milk, yogurt, ground flax seed and three HUGE handfuls of spinach

Maisy was just a little excited about her first smoothie. Now she doesn't let one drop of goodness escape!

I'm really excited about green smoothies (as anyone who has had a conversation with me in the last three months could testify) because the twins suck them down like they are going out of style! They LOVE them! And I love knowing that they are starting their day with spinach and lots of other good-for-you stuff. Then I don't feel as guilty when I give them chicken nuggets with mac and cheese for lunch ;)!

Anyone else doing this? I'd love to swap recipes.

And the Winners are....

First of all I want to say thanks to Candace, Dana, Shannon, Cat, Larissa and Kathleen for their support and link love. Many of them took some real time out to learn about me and the pattern and to put some great posts up about the Pod. Thanks so much ladies! If you haven't met these amazing women, take a minute to...you won't be sorry.

OK, now on to the winners!

Wait, one more thing, I have been completely overwhelmed (in a good way) by your responses. Thanks so much for your kind words and enthusiasm. I can't wait to see what all of your creative minds will do with this pattern!

OK, now on to the winners!

Oh oops, one more thing, remember how I said that today everyone who left a comment would receive a special little thank you gift? Well just in case the two names I choose don't happen to be yours, don't despair...I'm going to let you know what your thank you gift is in just a second!

OK now REALLY, on to the winners!

Thanks to Random.org:

The winner of the Pod Swaddler PDF Pattern/Tutorial is:

Andi of Bacon Pecan Pie!!!
She was selected from the friends/followers section.
She said: "I'd make it for a friend's baby. Thanks for the chance!"

And for The Pod Swaddler made by Me:

Dallas Ann from Prentice Family!!!
She was selected from the comments section.

She said: "I'm due on the 15th of this month and this would be perfect!"

Let's give these lucky ladies a
"Hip, Hip...HOORAY!"

Congrats you two! I'm so happy for you!
Please email me: whiletheysleepblog@gmail.com to claim
your prize and give me your digits.

Now for the rest of you.

I think you would agree with Maisy :

One is nice...but TWO? That's Twice as Nice!

So here is what I am giving you as a big THANKS...

If you like the Pod so much that you'd like to hop over to my shop and purchase the pattern, I will give you any one of the other patterns available in my shop....are you ready?

Fo' FREE!

That's right folks, buy one Pod pattern and get any other pattern of your choice, FREE!

This is what you need to do:

1. First go to my shop and decide which of the other patterns you'd like.
2. Next click on The Pod Swaddler Pattern and click "add to cart". Then do what Etsy prompts you to do.
3. When it gives you the option to write a "Note to seller", that's where you type "Pod Friend". After that type which pattern you'd like me to send along free of charge with your Pod pattern.
   

That simple!

This offer is only good through Monday the 10th so don't delay!

Thanks again for all of the kind words of support and I look forward to getting to know you!

Speaking of getting to know you, I hope you'll come back soon for a visit, there are a few tutorials to look forward to:




Have a great weekend and THANKS AGAIN!

The Pod Swaddler - Giveaway Day!

SORRY GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED!!!

First of all I'd like to say "Welcome" to all of you that have come here for the first time today. I am really glad you stopped by. I hope you will find some inspiration and comfort here.

Now on to the reason all of you are here:

Today is the day! The Pod Swaddler pattern is finished and ready and IN the shop.

To celebrate I will be giving away TWO prizes!

The first is a PDF Pod pattern complete with a tutorial and printable instructions for use sent to you via email.

The second prize is your very own Pod made by Moi' (that's "me" in french...I know you knew that).

"So what do I need to do to get in on this totally awesome giveaway?" you ask.

Here are the rules:

I will be choosing a winner from two places on this blog:

1. The comments section (just leave me a comment telling me who you'd make this for)
2. The friends section (to become a friend just click on the "follow this blog" or " join this site" section on the side of the blog).

If you are not comfortable becoming friends yet, I totally understand...for heaven's sake we've just met! So don't feel any pressure to do this (although I promise you won't be sorry if you do).

So really if you are both a friend AND a commenter you really have TWO chances to WIN!

GIVEAWAY CLOSES:
THURSDAY AUGUST 6th AT midnight MST
I will post the winners here on Friday Morning the 7th. There will also be a little treat for everyone who enters. So stay tuned to find out what that will be!

Norah says:

And so do I!

P.S. If you post this giveaway on your own blog so all your friends, family, acquaintances, and enemies can see it, and you end up winning, I will throw in an extra pattern from my shop to sweeten the deal.

P.P.S. If you are more of a "I put inspirational blogs in my sidebar section" kind of person like I am, this counts as being a friend/follower of While They Sleep. Just leave me another comment (so two total) letting me know that I am on your side bar. If you do all three (comment, side bar comment, and friend/follower), that gives you even more chances to win!