Knock-off Mondays-High Waisted skirt

Today's inspiration skirt: Anthropolgie $99.95

I bought these shoes last summer for $8.  They aren't comfortable, they hurt my feet, and I didn't own much to wear them with, but are adorable and did I mention that they were $8.  

 

I've had some navy fabric in my stash for years, so I just had to buy a zipper and the pattern, so I made the entire thing for under $3 and in an afternoon.  It's McCall's pattern 5591.  It was a pretty straight forward pattern although it does have a zipper.  I was a little surprised how high it sat on my waist ( I think my child-bearing hips may just be slightly larger than the model's on the pattern cover), but overall I'm happy and it looks cute w/ my red gingham shoes.

To see where I link up or to add your party, please click here.

Fried Green Tomatoes: Vegetarian Day 1

Yesterday marked Day 1 on my "eat vegetarian for 30 days on my  40 by 40 challenge list. 

 My garden is full of lots of green tomatoes, most of which the birds or bugs will eat sometime before they turn red, so I thought I would make "Fried Green Tomatoes".  I also thought it would easier passing off vegetables to the fam if I fried them first.  I combined a few recipes to get this one:

6 medium green tomatoes
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp red pepper
1/4 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup buttermilk (or if you're out use regular milk and add 1/2 TB. lemon juice and wait 5 minutes until it curdles)
1 beaten egg
1/3 cup bread crumbs (I used Italian ones)
1/2 cup corn meal
oil ( I used 1/2 canola and 1/2 olive)


Slice the tomatoes and sprinkle w/ salt and pepper and set aside (one recipe said to let them sit for 5 minutes).  Preheat oil on medium heat. #1 Mix flour w/ peppers, mustard and salt in a shallow dish.  #2 In a second shallow dish beat together egg and milk.  #3 In a third dish mix bread crumbs and cornmeal. 


Dip each tomato slice in #1, #2, #3 and then fry 3-5 minutes on each side until golden brown.  Sprinkle w/ salt if desired.


Even though, I've lived most of my life in the south, I've never eaten these before, and I expected the tomatoes to be tangy (like an unripe apple).  I was wrong, they taste more like fried zucchini.  We ate them plain, dipped in ranch, or drizzled w/ a little balsamic vinegar (my favorite).  


  I'm not sure how terribly healthy they were, but they were pretty darn tasty. My son even like them, but told me that if I substituted potatoes they would be awesome:)  




To see where I link up or to add your party, please click here.

Gifts for teachers and classmates

It is the last day of school here in San Antonio! Depending on how ambitious I am, I try to give my kid's teachers something to show my gratitude for putting up w/ my kids all year.

  I made Supermom Apron's for Mother's Day and decided to make my youngest son's teacher one too. She is crafty and I thought she'd appreciate it.  I figure she could use it for messy stuff around the classroom. I also think it will look much cuter on her than my carpet.

UPDATE:  She loved it-or is a very good actress.

Tutorial 

My other son has a man teacher, so I think I'm just going to get him a gift card.  I don't think he'd like an apron much.

Here's some one's I've used in the past.

Gift Card Holder

What to get teachers as thank-you gifts (hint: not mugs or lotion)

Middle school teacher gifts

Wish Bracelet

Another mom made this for my son last year and I thought it was a clever gift to give out to class-mates.  My son was too cool to wear his, but might of if she'd use a bead instead of blingy star.

HAPPY SUMMER!

To see where I link up or to add your party, please click here.

Linky Party #43: Will craft for fun

I'm taking a little break from give-a-ways for the summer, so instead of telling you about this week's sponsor, I'll share some of my favorites from last week's party?

Visual Eye Candy-so pretty


Crystal and Co -80 things to do w/ your kids in the summer

(for some reason we keep signing our kids up for swim team and that pretty much eats up all our time)

Last week's most viewed linky was Tousled Day's Maxi skirt to dress. (she keeps telling us she's not a seamstress)






<center><a href="http://trophyw.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src=" http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h480/trophyw/NEWFEATURED.jpg "/></a></center>

Now it's your turn to link up and I could really use some inspiration.    I've got the summer lazy's and haven't been super productive.  I really need some good vegetarian recipes (I'm starting a 30 day vegetarian challenge on Friday).

As always you only need to leave your e-mail if you're new and would like to be added to my weekly linky reminder e-mail.

Winner!

Random.org chose #18: Gramma Luvlee's buzz Light year party!


If you haven't checked out her site: you really should.  She puts on the world's most amazing camps every year for her grandkids.


Please contact Precious Patterns directly at their shop to claim your 3 patterns.

Patriotic Round-up

Even though my kids have another week of school left and the calendar says it is still spring for another month, I am declaring it summer. 

It's going to be 95 today, my legs are covered in mosquito bites, and it is the first day of summer swim team so it can not possible still be spring. 

 Here's some fun summer projects I did last year:

Pinwheel Wreath
Summer Mantel
Stars and Stripes Pillow
Firecrackers
10 minute painted T
Patriotic Button t and headband

Here's some stuff I've pinned to add to my stash this year.




I need your help. We have an annual day at church where we do crafts all day and I'm in charge of coming up w/ a craft.  Which do you think is cuter:

#1Unknown   

#2 Etsy   

#3Brown Paper Packages

To see where I link up or to add your party, please click here.

Linky #42 Will Craft for Free Patterns

Welcome to the party, I'm so glad that all of you showed up. Let me introduce you to this week's sponsor:




"We are a creative mother/daughter team from the Sunshine State. We're always working on new and unique patterns for you!
Mary Ayres has designed all of our patterns. She is a nationally known craft designer and has sold thousands of her original designs to numerous national craft, sewing, and quilting magazines."

Here are some of my favorites from the shop:


Precious Patterns is generously giving away 3 patterns from their shop. Since each pattern is e-mailed to you in PDF form this give-a-way is open to everyone with an e-mail address.
To enter:


1. Visit Precious Patterns and tell me which patterns are your favorite.
2. Link up a project (one entry/ project)
3. Follow Tales of a Trophy Wife :    

Good Luck!  Remember you only need to add your e-mail if you'd like to be included in my weekly reminder e-mails-otherwise skip that step).