Striped Quilt Part 1 - Top piece (sewing the stripes)

I have been seeing this ruffled quilt floating around etsy and pinterest for a while and decided it as time I make it. Plus I wanted a quilt for E when she transition into a toddler bed. I made mine a little larger so it can be used as a lap quilt once she outgrows the toddler bed.

My quilt is 42” by 58” so my measurements are based on that size.

My quilt has 2 pink stripes, 3 grey stripes and 6 white stripes.

(Picture does not show backing as I bought that once my quilt top was completed).

Materials needed, in additional to the typical sewing supplies:

• 1 3/4" of pink*  (I used the pink for ruffled strips and binding which is why more fabric is needed)
• 1 1/4" of grey*
• 1 1/4" of white*
• Batting 50" by 66" I just bought a twin size since the crib size wasn’t large enough. **
• 2 3/4" of backing fabric
• Matching thread (I just used pink (since it was the binding color) and white for everything else)

*Make sure to check the width of your fabric, each strip will need to be cut to 43” so you don’t want to start with a smaller width. All of my fabric was at least 44” in width.

** Please make sure the batting allows it to be quilted up to 6” apart (some batting requires the quilting to be closer together.

I used a ½” allowance for all of the sewing.

After washing your fabric, cut your strips to be 43” by 6 ¼”.  Cut 3 grey, 6 white, and 6 pink.

Iron your pieces of fabric.

For the ruffled stripe:

Sew two pieces of the pink strips together, on the width part (the sides that are only 6 ¼”) so that you now have a long stripe 6 ¼” by 85” (losing an inch due to the seam allowance).

Once you have done this for both of your pink strips. Sew with an ½” allowance with a very loose and long stitch. (I had my tension at the loosest I could get it which was a 9 for my Brother sewing machine.). I recommend practicing this ruffle on a scrap piece of fabric. As you sew, the fabric will start to bunch up on its own – which creates the ruffle.

Pin this ruffle piece to one of your pink strips (42” by 6 1/4”). As you pin, you can help create some of the ruffles so you can get it to look the way you want.

Sew the strips with a 1/2" allowance on either side.

Do this again for the other ruffle. You should now have two ruffle pieces.

Now sew the strips together, two at a time. Be sure to pin, this helps so much in keeping the strips from shifting and being equal on all sides.

 I started by sewing a white strip to every grey strip.

Iron the seams open.

Continue sewing the strips together until the top of your quilt is finished! (sorry I forgot to take a picture with just the top - I put the pink around to make sure that's what I wanted for the binding)

I will finish this quilting process in other posts.

Part 2
Part 3

S'mores Treats

I made these fun S'mores Treats for a party a few weeks ago and they were a hit.  This are simple and so perfect to bring to any summer party!

Instead of using Rice Krispies I used Golden Grahams so they would taste more like a S'more.  You will need Golden Grahams, marshmallows, and butter.

Melt the marshmallows and butter in a microwave bowl for 1 1/2 minutes.  Stir, if the marshmallows are not completely melted, microwave in 30 second intervals until completely melted. You could melt them over low heat on the stove if you'd prefer that way instead.

Add the marshmallow mixture to the cereal and mix well.  Add some mini chocolate chips and marshmallow bits and mix well.  I love these Mallow Bits that you use for hot cocoa.  They are too cute and perfect for this with the mini chips!  

Spread the treat mixture into your prepared pan.  

Sprinkle some more mini chips and marshmallows on top.  I also used some chocolate sprinkles I had.

Let the treats cool and then cut into bars and serve.  

The perfect summer treat!

S'mores Treats
Recipe By: Prescriptions for a Happy Home 

Ingredients:
8 cups golden graham cereal
1 10 oz. bag of marshmallows (about 40 large marshmallows or 4 c. mini marshmallows)
5 T. butter, divided
1 c. mini chocolate chips, divided
1 c. marshmallow bits, divided
chocolate sprinkles, optional

Directions:
Prepare a large mixing bowl.  Rub the 2T. of butter all over the bowl to coat. (you probably won't need to use all 2T. of the butter)  Add the cereal and set aside.  Also prepare a 9x13 pan with cooking spray or with additional butter.  Melt the marshmallows and 3T. butter in a microwave bowl for 1 1/2 minutes.  Stir, if the marshmallows are not completely melted, microwave in 30 second intervals until completely melted.  Add the marshmallow mixture to the cereal and mix well.  Add 3/4 c. each of mini chocolate chips and marshmallow bits and mix well to combine.  Spread the treat mixture into your prepared pan.  Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 each of mini chips and marshmallows and chocolate sprinkles, if desired, on top.  Let the treats cool and then cut into bars and serve.
Enjoy!

 

Medical School Party

We didn't really know any of the other first years when we first came out here to start school. My husband Nic, quickly became friends with Steve and Jeff. They studied together and hung out together a lot at school This meant that the guys wanted to get together outside of school which allowed us wives to get to know each other really well.  Ever since first year, the guys decided it would be fun to have a Cafe Rio Party sometime. Well, I am sad to admit we never granted their wish.....until now.

Kim and I were talking a few weeks ago about wanting to get together as families before both of our husbands head off to away rotations. As wives, we get together quite a bit but with different rotation schedules we hadn't hung out as entire families in awhile. We decided their (Nic, Steve, and Jeff's) dream of a Cafe Rio Party would finally come- and be a great way to celebrate being done with 3rd year (and rotations).

We decided we would have some fun with everyone and planned a little competitive game. This game would work great to start or end any medical school year. We did it by couples, husbands competing against their own wife. But we also kept track of the time so there could also be an overall competition.

For the husbands:

1st activity - They had to talk on the phone, explaining how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, while doing either C's or E's hair.

Once they finished the girl's hair, the moved on the last station where they frosted a heart cookie and then decorated it with an EKG.

The wives:

We started with some surgery gloves, and had to put on the gloves in order to keep the gloves "sterile." Nic showed the wives the proper way of putting the gloves on - there is a special way of doing it. (Husbands watched to make sure we did it the right way).

Once the gloves were on, we had to play Operation. We only had 3 pieces in there (all different textures), if we were to do it again I would add another 1 or 2 pieces.

Just for fun, we switched roles near the end where the wives did the wive things while the husbands did the husband things. Both ways were a lot of fun!

We ended the night with some "Medical" Cookies.

Just cut the onesie to make it a scrub top. For the band-aid, take flower and just use the middle part from top petal to bottom petal.

Cookies left to right: bone, EKG heart, scrub top, two band aids, a pill, and a single band aid. If you make some, please post pictures we woul love to see your creativity!