Day 267: How To Have My JM's

Although, as I typed that title, I realized that I forgot to bring my chocolate chip cookie recipe downstairs with me.  So, you'll not be able to create that Joyful Moment just yet.  But you will be able to duplicate a few of my recent Joyful Moments after reading tonight's post.

First things first.  Today's Joyful Moments included wearing my new dress to church today.

My kids used teamwork to take this excellent shot.

And then we had some friends over for dinner.  The wife is one of my good friends from church, gym, craft nights, etc.  Their oldest daughter is in Little M's preschool class.  And their younger daughter is as cute as a button.  So, I decided it was high time the husbands bonded.

And bond they did.  They have extremely similar taste in movies.  Uncanny, really.  And they both love sports.  It's a match made in heaven.

And the whole night was a Joyful Moment for me.  Except when I accidentally said something inappropriate.  Sorry, guys!

Now, how to be just like me.  What you all aspire to, I know.

First the Flirty Skirty:

Here is my little Sweet P modeling her new skirt.  I was so flattered that she wanted to wear it to church today.  Don't ask about Little M.  I don't know why he was shirtless.  And I can't remember if I mentioned the mohawk on this blog.  HH gave it to him.  It has grown on me and I actually like it from the front.  This view, however, makes me think that maybe we live in a trailer park instead of our pretty home.

Okay, so not to disappoint, but I really don't have a pattern.  I googled instructions and got all sorts of weird and complicated stuff, so I decided to just start cutting.  First, cut off the legs of the jeans to whatever length you want the skirt (you can leave them on, if you want a full-length skirt.  But I was doing this to try and salvage one of the 5 pairs of jeans Sweet P tore a hole in last winter).  Then, cut or pick apart the leg seams.  I should have taken pictures along the way, I just never imagined that someone would ask me for instructions on sewing something.  That still boggles my mind.

Anyway, once you have the inner seams apart, cut up yoke of the jeans, to about couple inches below the zipper.  Then do the same in the back.  You do this so that you can overlap that part when you start pinning and cutting.  Can you tell what I'm talking about from the pictures?  Sorry, I don't know enough about sewing to explain this well.

Then cut apart the seam on the leg parts that you cut off.  Cut an appropriate width out of it and start pinning it.  Remember to over lap the part that you cut at the top, so the skirt has the flair you want it to.

I accidentally cut it curved in the back, so it's longer than the rest.  And it is a smooth cut even though it looks like there is a big jagged part on the left side in this pic.  It's just the way the skirt was hanging.  Anyway, even though I did that on accident, I really liked it so I left it.  As you can see, I still have the raw edge at the bottom.  I'm going to wash it and see how I like the fray and then decide if I want to leave it, or sew a hem.

Other options include sewing a different fabric in the panels.  I think it would be cute to do it bunched at the top in the back, so it kind of has pleats.  And I'm also thinking about embellishing it by sewing beads on the front in the shape of a flower, or something.

I still have 4 more pairs I can work with.  Awesome.

Now, if you want to eat like me--

Chicken and Gnocchi Soup 


First off, this is a recipe that is a composite of several others I found on-line.  Like all of my recipes, it's kind of shady when it comes to amounts and whatnot.  I'll do my best.

1/3 C. butter (margarine or olive oil, if you're going dairy-free)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 lbs. chicken, cubed (sometimes I cook it in the soup first and then cube it before serving.  No real reason, just whatever I'm in the mood for)
1 carrot, diced
1/2 or 1 onion, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
1 C. Spinach (this amount varies greatly depending on my mood and how much I have, and you can use fresh or frozen, I haven't noticed a difference)
1 tsp. thyme
Salt & Pepper (I actually don't add extra salt because I think there is enough from the chicken stock)
4 C. chicken stock
2 C. milk or half n' half (rice or almond milk work just fine)
16 oz. Gnocchi (I actually double this because my family love these little dumplings)
1-2 heaping T. flour
1/3 C. cold water

Melt butter and cook the chicken in it.  Add and saute onion, celery, garlic, and carrot until onion is clear.  Add chicken stock, milk, thyme, salt, and pepper.

Heat to boiling, then add gnocchi.  Gently boil 4 minutes, then turn down and simmer for 10 minutes.

Whisk flour into cold water then stir into the pot to thicken the soup.  Add spinach.  Heat to boiling.  Once it has reached desired thickness, serve.

Sometimes this thickens up so much in the fridge overnight, I add more water to it before serving it the next day.  It's so flavorful it handles this just fine and still tastes just as delicious.  ENJOY!!!