Delicious Weelicious

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If you're looking for simple, tasty, healthy meals that your little ones will love, you have to check out Weelicious. Created by Catherine McCord, mom of two and a culinary school graduate, Weelicious offers a daily supply of recipes that your tiny tots are sure to gobble up, in addition to cooking tips, advice on finding fresh, local produce and more. Bake up a batch of her zucchini muffins and watch them disappear before your eyes. Every recipe I've tried has been a hit with my two-year-old and my husband, and that's quite a feat!



Lovely Lists

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Are you a mom who keeps lists? If you said no, we'd love to know your secret for getting everything done and staying organized! But if you said yes, check out A Print A Day. This site offers a host of free, downloadable, printable lists and calendars with whimsical designs that will have you actually enjoying your glances at your To-Do List.

To see all the free downloads, just click on downloads on the left-hand side, then print and enjoy!

We especially love theCarnivorous Plants calendar (top image). And though we don't promise these beauties will make you more productive, but you'll sure look chic as you go about crossing items off and planning your monthly calendar!

Mommy/Kiddo Date Day

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Hey Fort Worth moms! Looking for a fun outing for you and your little ones? Well now that Spring has arrived (and is hopefully here to stay), it's time to get outdoors for some fun in the sun that you and your tots will both enjoy. For a delightful Mommy/Kiddo date day, consider this itinerary.

First, head to the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens ' conservatory for their Butterflies in the Garden exhibit. This special exhibit features tropical butterflies from around the world. You and your little ones will be tickled with delight during this unique experience! For more information and ticket prices, click here. And when you've finished your stroll through the butterfly exhibit, head out to the garden grounds to let the kiddos burn off some energy while you soak in the beauty of spring blooms.

Once you've worked up an appetite, head a few miles down University towards the new So7 Development on Seventh, where you can grab one of chef Tim Love's famed burgers at The Love Shack. Like the Stockyards Love Shack location, the off-Seventh locale (it's located at 817 Matisse Street) offers tasty burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, a classic lobster roll, salads and more.
Plus, the outdoor family-friendly dining environment will keep your kids entertained. There's a hopscotch court and chalk for kids (and adults) to doodle. This is sure to be one restaurant that your whole brood will love!
When you've finished your lunch, make your way a few blocks over to J. Rae's for dessert. With absolutely divine cookies, cupcakes and cheesecakes, this bakery is a little treasure trove, and your kids will be delighted by the bright colors on each sweet treat! Don't be surprised if J. Rae's becomes a little obsession for you and your little ones! J. Rae's is located off Seventh at 935 Foch.


Getting Crafty

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My crafting/sewing gene has been quite strong lately. Maybe it's the promise of spring that has energized me, or perhaps it's all the fabulous blogs I've been reading lately (I'm planning on posting a blog roll so you too can check out some of the truly fascinating talent I've discovered coming from some incredible moms!) ... whatever it is, I have several projects rattling around in my mind.

So Friday night I sat down and completed a pillow for my son's room. It turned out so cute, that I wanted to share!
And because it turned out so cute, I thought you might want to try your hand at it to. So below I've posted a tutorial on how I made this. Unfortunately, I didn't think about taking step-by-step pictures until after it was finished, so you'll have to forgive the lack of imagery. Next time, I promise, I'll snap pics as I go.

Cowboy Silhouette Pillow Sham (for a standard 16x16 throw pillow; adjust sizes accordingly for larger or smaller)

MATERIALS:
2 yards of fabric for pillow sham
1 yard for contrasting horse silhouette
Stitch Witchery or Steam A Seam
Craft rope (I got mine at Michael's)
Thread (1 to match your dominant fabric; 1 to coordinate or contrast with your horse fabric)

STEPS
1) Cut out fabric. For a 16x16 sham, cut three pieces from your main fabric. Your front piece should measure 17x17, your two back pieces should measure 14x17 each.

2) Cut out horse (or any other design element) silhouette using a stencil as your guide. I used this horse stencil from Pink of Perfection.

3) Center your silhouette in the middle of your 17x17 piece of fabric and adhere with Stitch Witchery or Steam A Seam. This is so the silhouette won't shift when you're sewing it.

4) Choose a decorative stitch and stitch around your silhouette.

5) Take your rope and pin it to the fabric framing your silhouette in any design you desire. Then sew it into place. Because the rope is so thick, you'll have to pick your presser foto up several times as you sew to keep the fabric moving. You may also want to use the hand wheel if your machine won't stitch through the rope.
(Note: I actually did this step AFTER I'd assembled the pillow, and I really regretted it. I was afraid that if I sewed the rope on first, it would make it difficult for me to sew the pillow because the rope would add too much bulk at some places. When I was finished, I realized I could have attached the rope before assembling the pillow. So do it now, and it will save you a lot of time!)

6) Hem your two back pieces. At the top of one 14x17 piece, and at the bottom of another, do a rolled hem of approx. 1 inch, then stitch. This will be where you will insert the pillow form into the sham, and these two pieces will overlap to cover the form. Again, sorry I don't have pics, just visualize the back of a sham you have, and you'll know what I mean.

7) Now pin your front piece to your two back pieces. Lay the three pieces RIGHT sides together. Pin one 14x17 piece to the top of the 17x17 front, then pin the other 14x17 piece to the bottom of the 17x17 front. The two back pieces should have the hemmed edges overlapping several inches. Then sew a 1/2 seam all the way around the perimeter of the sham. Turn the sham inside out, and ... you're done! Now enjoy the result of your handiwork!

Free Book

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Who doesn't love getting free reading material for their little ones? Now you have the chance to get the classic treasure, "The Little Engine That Could" free, simply by going to parents.com/playdatewithapurpose. The first 200 people to sign up for Parents' Playdate With a Purpose materials will receive a free copy of the beloved story. But hurry, the 200 free books will go fast. And if you don't happen to score a free read, don't despair. The Playdate With a Purpose materials are fun and educational. So either way, you and your little ones win!

A Little Taste of Spring

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Spring is in the air here in Texas ... and it couldn't be more welcome! To help usher in the impending season, I whipped up this delicious limeade this afternoon and just had to share. It was honestly divine ... a little bit of springtime refreshment right in your mouth!


Honey Mint Limeade Recipe
2 cups lime juice (about 15 limes)
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 cups chopped and packed fresh mint leaves

1/4 cup honey

1 lime, cut lengthwise for garnish


Bring sugar and one cup water to a boil. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add sugar syrup and mint to a blender; puree. Pour through a very sieve and discard solids. In a pitcher (at least 2-qts), stir lime juice and 1/4 cup honey until blended. Add 6 cups of water and sugar syrup, stir, and chill. Add sliced limes before serving. (Recipe and image courtesy Wisteria.com)