Berry Spinach Salad w/ Strawberry Dressing

I really, really, really...I mean really...(did I make that clear enough)...LOVE salads. Say what? I know you are shocked, right...I mean it isn't like I have shared some before right...ehem...here and here oh and maybe here...wait and don't forget here.

I have a new favorite. AND i mean fav-oh-right.

I have seen any combo of spinach and berry salads floating around. I have also seen a plethora...(yes I used a big word...thanks Junior year Rhetoric English...thanks to the teacher who hated me...can't even remember his name)... of strawberry dressing recipes.

After searching and searching I came to two conclusions...THIS strawberry dressing is THE best...AND I wanted to make my own Berry Salad...unique to my tastes.

Ya' want to know what I found...this dressing plus my salad combo equals happy, happy, joy, joy...no I did not watch that show...name it if you can.


So with happiness in my mouth and joy in my belly, I give you my Berry Spinach Salad with Strawberry Dressing recipe.

Delightful.

Berry Salad with Strawberry Dressing 

Ingredients:

Salad-
1 bag baby spinach
2 cups sliced strawberries
1 - 1 1/2 cups blueberries
1 cup pecan pieces, sugared*
1/4 cups sugar, for pecans

Dressing-
adapted from Our Best Bites

1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup sugar
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon grated onion
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup strawberries
2/3 cups canola oil
1 1/2 teaspoons poppy seeds

Combine vinegar, honey, sugar, garlic, onion, salt and berries in a blender. Blend until everything is completely smooth. While the blender is still on, slowly pour in oil. Then hand stir in the poppy seeds. Store in the refrigerator until ready to be served on salad.

To make salad-

*First sugar pecans, by placing them in a frying pan with the sugar over med high heat. Regularly stir the pecan/sugar mixture. Sugar will first clump a little and then melt. As it melts it will coat the pecans. Stir more constantly here until most of the sugar is liquid and has coated the pecans. When all coated, turn the pecans onto a cookie sheet and spread out with a fork. Let cool.

Combine the spinach, strawberries, and blueberries. Sprinkle with sugared pecans just before serving. Drizzle dressing over the entire salad or serve separately..

I am not kidding when I say this is my new favorite salad. I am pretty sure I had it the next day for lunch...and would have had it again for dinner if there were salad left.

Plus...isn't it just the most beautiful salad evah...

Enjoy everyone!

My Anna Skirt

A few weeks ago I saw Anna's (from Noodlehead) tutorial for this skirt over at Crafterhours for their skirt week. Instant L.O.V.E. I knew I was going to make this skirt. I pinned it immediately...heart Pinterest. At the beginning of Spring, I had declared that this Summer was going to be a skirt summer. Alas with all the moving, I had yet to make myself a single skirt I could wear.

That is until now...woohoo.

I had everything I needed to make this skirt, so I whipped it out in an afternoon. 

Since my fabric choice was this lovely patriotic stripe IKEA fabric, I made sure to get it done before our trip to the fireworks. I seriously love wearing this skirt.

I may have worn it three times since making it. I have paired it with white sandals and red-painted toes, yellow ballet flats, or my bare feet while cutely parading through my house...after all that is the only way to parade through one's home.

You really can't go wrong with this skirt. The tutorial is FREE. The tutorial is easy to follow. I love that the skirt has a flat front, yet gathered back so there is no need to put in a zipper...a woohoo. I made it out of a heavier fabric, but it would be lovely and easy breezy out of a light cotton. She even gives you tips if you want to put in pockets. That is my plan for my next skirt...

because, oh yes...

there will be another skirt. 

Thanks Anna.

Happy Fourth of July

Happy Independence Day to all my US readers. What a lovely opportunity to reflect on the blessings of freedom. I love the unity of gathering and celebrating one's country's freedoms.

I am humbled and grateful for the sacrifices made in the past and present that give me the right of freedom.

So today I celebrate. I celebrate with my fellow country men and women. I celebrate with friends and family. I gather, unified in and reminded of the many blessings I have.

We have already celebrated with fireworks, the national anthem, patriotic hymns, and some flag waving.

Today we celebrate with gratitude, friends, more flag waving, a parade, and food.

yes I had a little fun and made mini jar cherry pies

Happy Fourth of July!

In a Nutshell: Baby You're a Firework

We spent this week getting patriotic. On Friday we donned our patriotic wear, baked some treats, packed our picnic, and headed into Columbus.

Going to the firework show was one of the few things the boys requested we get to do before moving. They were super excited. Once we got there, we maneuvered the crowds, found a sliver of space to lay down our blankets, and then we set up camp.

We luckily were able to find some friends and made it a party.

We ate some yummy food...the children were delightfully covered in neon orange cheese powder.

We had a lot of fun hanging out.

Waiting for the fireworks was definitely the hardest part. Patience ran low, energy ran out...but with a little snuggle time...and some, uh sugar...we made it until 10:00.

The fireworks were ah-mazing. The older two loved it...the Littlest stayed cocooned in Daddy's arms trying to shut out the world.

Our last Red, White and Boom was a very memorable experience. I wonder what Idaho offers??

Re-purposed Shirts for the 4th

So tonight in our neck of the woods is our BIG firework show. I mean BIG...metropolis big. Out of the five years we have lived here, this is only our 3rd time going. Me+my Little Men+large chaotic crowds=panic attack. However, it is such a fun tradition AND my LM love being there. So I put on a happy smiling face, several big breaths and we head on out for the festivities.

Since we are in the "pinching our pennies" phase of moving, I had to improvise the patriotic wardrobes this year. Every shirt I made came from either my stash or their closets.

I shared Oldest's on Wednesday.

The other two came from their closets and I literally just did one thing to each.

Middle's started as a simple polo which has seen many summers.

Little's started as this long sleeve Sunday dress shirt.

All I did to Little's was cut off the sleeves and then hem, to make shorter sleeves. Well then of course I added this homemade bow-tie (which he probably won't wear the night...can you just imagine the crowd wondering which crazy lady put her toddler in a bow tie).

For Middle's I used a small scrap of heat transfer vinyl...my new favorite thing...and put a simple "76"...ya know for 1776...at the top. SO simple, and patriotic enough for the 4th, but totally doable for everyday wear.

I know there are several pictures of Middle, it isn't because I love him more, it is just because he had a great evolution of photos...

forced smile..."mom take the picture already"

gut buster..."mom just said the word boogers"

4 going on 14..."mom don't cry at how handsome and grown up I look"

Just goes to show you, if you search in your closets enough and get creative you can really reuse what you have to make something new. Yeah for not having to spend money!

Amidst all this patriotic sewing, I also busted out a skirt for myself. I cant' wait to show you. I think it turned out quite lovely and I can't wait to wear it tonight to the fireworks. I am hoping my skirt is so cute no one will notice the panic all over my face...hahaha.