Chocolate Strawberry Pancakes

I know I should have posted this MONTHS ago
when strawberries were still in season.

  But I didn't.  

So here you go anyway.  

This is my favorite breakfast at the Pancake House in Puerto Vallarta:  

Chocolate pancakes with strawberries.

 Not the best pictures in the whole world, but you can use your imagination,right?

So, the recipe?  Still perfecting that, but I have found several chocolate pancake recipes online.  

Just add strawberries to the batter, 

top with powdered sugar (or whipped cream--hello!!), 

and more fresh strawberries.  

A true delight!

Here's a pretty darn good recipe to get you started.  

Plus it has pictures for every step.  

Someone has time for such things.  Not I.

{click here for recipe}

New Shoes

Who doesn't love a good bargain?

Here's the shoes I found @ St. Vinnie's on Monday.

 Clogs.  I know.  But I love them!

 $3.47 & I don't think they've really been worn.  

(Parana gun!  Oh yeah!!!)

Dress & Headband for Bee's friend

  It was a birthday party!

Bee's friend "Joey" had her party at the local pool tonight.  

A gift was in order.

 Thankfully, I had already had this fabric cut to make this dress/top.  

(Because, of course, I realized I needed a gift at about 10:00 this morning).  

I had made one just like this for Bug months ago, and was going to make this for Bee, except that she wears the one I made for Bug.

[Insert big breath here; that was a dizzying sentence.] 

So this was the perfect garment to make for the perfect little birthday girl.

  I decided to make a headband to go with the dress.  I mean, what girl doesn't want an accessory? 

 

Bandana Skirt--view 2

My friend Kristina (check out Vintage Couture on FB) makes the coolest stuff.  Once she made me a skirt like this.  I still wear it & get compliments all the time.  THANKS KRISTINA!!  She has made me 2 of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe.

Bee was at a VBS this week and the theme was Sonshine Harvest.  They wore bandanas everyday to denote which group they were in.  Bee was a grape.  Yes, a purple bandana!  I figured she needed a bandana skirt to sport at VBS.  Okay, "need" would be the wrong word.  I figured it would be "fun" to make a skirt for her.  Let's just say Kristina is much better at constructing these adorable skirts.  Sadly, my first try left something to be desired in the construction, not to mention it was a tad on the small side.

I cut Bug a skirt at the same time.  The construction of her skirt was quite good, if I do say so myself.  However, it is a bit too small as well. This is what I get for bad math.  And sewing after the girls are in bed.

 (Bug's skirt!)

 (Yes, I'm proud that it lined up so nicely!  I'm usually so bad in the details.)

I'll work on a tutorial.  After I figure out the math.  :)  Maybe by then I can make compound sentences as well.  I'm lacking sleep.

Bee & Bug: Bathing Beauties

 What's been a major theme in our summer?  

Swimming.  

Swimming lessons, swimming at the pool, swimming at home.  

An army of bathing suits and towels drape over our bathroom shower. 

The girls have been great.  They love the water.  Sadly, most of July--usually our most sunny month--was cloudy and cold.  Swimming lessons do not stop because of rain, and the truth is we didn't miss even one day.  Nope.  Not that I didn't want to, particularly during the parent-child session I signed up for with Bug.  It has paid off though!  Although not independent yet, our "almost 4" year old, Bee, has vastly improved her skills in the water.  Now she even jumps in with the big girls!

Here are some other swimming snapshots.  I'll upload another video (since I'm having issues!) in the next post.

 Bee @ swimming lessons

 Bug in the "shower" at the kiddie pool

 Bee enjoying lessons!

 Bug jumping in & I know, my face is awesome.

 Practice kicking

 At Great Grandparents

 Bee is on the left.  No, I am not in this photo!!!

 

Playing with Grandma.

The Simple Skirt

My grandma gave me a bunch of awesome 70's fabric!

I'm not super sure what I'm going to do with all of it, but I decided to start with a simple skirt for Bug.  The pattern fits her personality and I'm super excited to put it on her tomorrow morning!  I think I'll stick the tutorial on thinkcraft.com.  I'll let you know when it posts!

In the meantime, I'm hoping to get a lot of inspiration from Project Runway for the rest of the fabric.  More on PR to come . . .

Boobs or Bust

  . . . is the name of the my team for Race for the Cure.  

Want to join?  (I know you do!)

I mean, look at the fun team we had last year!  We got to run the 5k in POURING RAIN.  And you know what kept me going?

"I would much rather run in the rain than go through 1 chemotherapy treatment."

That's right.  Race for the Cure is not about us running--whether in rain or beautiful sunshine.  It's about pulling our resources together to find a CURE for breast cancer.  That's worth running for.  That's worth giving to.  That's worth being a part of.  Don't you think? 

(On a related but unrelated note, sorry English snobs:  

I know I'm not supposed to end sentences with prepositions, 

but sometimes it just works.

Please keep reading.)

So here's how you can join:

1.  Sign up to be part of Boobs or Bust team to walk or run (or sleep in--seriously, it's an option!) on October 23, 2011 in Eugene, OR.  If you don't like saying "Boobs" you can tell people your part of the BOB team.  Click HERE, then click "Join a Team".  Click "Search for Team".  Click "Boobs or Bust."  Follow the directions, choose from various options and you're in.

2.  Help me by shopping or donating!  There are 3 ways to do this:

First, you can donate online:  http://race.komenoregon.org/goto/jessicaubel

Second, I'm having a fundraiser at my home on Monday, August 8th.  My sister will be here introducing the new Fall line for Mary Kay. I will not be receiving the traditional "hostess gifts." Instead, she will donate 15% of ALL sales to my Race for the Cure fund. In addition, 40% of ALL LIPSTICK sales will go to 'The Cure fund. If anyone else books a party, 25% of that person's order will go to 'The Cure fund.  Please come.  Please, please come!!  It will also be a celebration party & a signing party.  I will have my computer up & running so you can register for the Race online. 

Third, If you are not local, but want to get MK products and still have your order count toward the fundraiser, just shop at marykay.com/jennybunch