Movie Theme Birthday Present-Boy Version

You know how in the previous post I said that I often procrastinate present giving. This boy version of the Movie Theme Present is case in point.

Mere days after rushing to get the girl version done for a party, I could be found sitting at my machine putting together a boy version for a party which was the next day.

Now, in my defense, I was already planning to do this present. PLUS I thought the party was at the end of the week. Good thing Hubby read the invite to me the night before otherwise we may have unintentionally missed the party.

Okay, so here is the boy version of my Movie Theme Present.

Boy pillowcase.

Here are some pillowcase tutorials:

Made (the one I use)

Bugs and Fishes 

Quilt Story

Coordinating movie.

Just add popcorn, instant present.

Get a really awesome boy-approved bag.

Now the Movie Theme present is ready for our little friend.

Movie Theme Birthday Present-Girl Version

When it comes to giving birthday presents for my boys' friends, well I kind of freak out.

I always get a little over wrought with what to get. Do I buy? Do I make? Should I match the gift to the theme of the party (yes, yes I do that sometimes)? What does he or she really like?

Now that my children are getting older and their friends are older, it is even harder to buy for them. Ugh. The worries go on and on.

Then all the time occasionally,  I leave getting the present until the last minute. Gasp. I know, you are all horrified.

This is what happened just this last weekend.

I had put off getting the present. I had no clue what to get our sweet neighbor girl...I mean when is the last time I had to buy anything for a little girl.

Then a couple of hours before the party I had a craft epiphany.

Gotta love getting those.

I would do a movie themed gift based on the theme of her party...a Smurfday Birthday.

I rushed to The Mart.

Miracles of miracles, they not only had the fabric I wanted BUT they also had a little movie that would go with it.

I rushed home with my fabric, the movie, and some popcorn with an hour to spare before the party started.

I ran in the house, breezing swiftly past Hubby. At his look of confusion, I shouted over my shoulder while hustling to my sewing table, "I am going to sew a pillow case for her present!"

I decided to ignore his "of course ya are" with accompanying laughter.

Before I knew it, I had one very Smurftastic pillow case.

Isn't it lovely?

Pillow cases are one of the easiest things to sew. Trust me, they really are.

Don't have time to make one. Well, you could even buy an already made character themed pillow case and match that with a movie.

Seriously all you need is a pillow case, a coordinating movie, and some bags of microwave popcorn.

Put it all together in a basic bag. Add some ribbon and maybe even some scraps of left over character fabric and you have an instantly cute gift.

Easy Peasy gift that is super fun to get.

Stay tuned for the boy version later today...

Hooded Baby Towel: Tutorial

I sure love the smell of a fresh washed and lotioned baby.

Is there anything better? Nope, I just don't think so.

A sweet smelling, squeaky clean baby is just about the best.

We have finally hit the stage where Bean actually enjoys his baths. He giggles and smiles while we scrub-a-dub-dub him. After he is all clean, he gets wrapped up in a warm and snuggy little towel.

Previous to making these towels, his bath towels were pretty sad. Sure they dried him off and kept him warm, but they did not match his level of cuteness. Not even close.

Well now he has some towels that don't quite rival his cuteness, but they do get close.

AND the good news is that I am going to tell you how you can make your very own hooded baby towels.

You will need:

1 towel for every hooded towel

homemade biased tape (I use this TUTORIAL)

coordinating thread

scrap fabric if you want to applique something on the the hood



Fold the towel in half lengthwise, aka hot dog way.

Cut off both ends. One end needs to have more than the other in order to cut out the hood. My main towel piece meaured 29" long. The piece I cut the hood from measured about 16".

Once you have your main piece cut, using a plate as a template, round the corners of the towel.

Now take the 16" left over end piece.

Next, with your towel piece on a diagnol, lay the top corner (where the hood will be) on top of the extra piece. Cut along the corner using it as a pattern. You want the hood to measure 6 1/2" top to bottom.

It will look like this.

Cut off a piece of your homemade biased tape that will cover the bottom edge of the hood piece. Pin it in place.

Sew in place. Then fold over and top stitch into place.

If you so decided to sew on a shape. Now is when you would do so.

Okay, now forgive me because a picture for the next step seems to be mysteriously gone. I swear I took the picture. Mayhaps my camera ate it. Yeah, let's go with that theory.

So the next step is to baste the hood piece to the main towel piece.

Once the hood piece is attached, pin biased tape all the way around the towel.

Sew the ends where the tape meets up together. Then sew the biased tape onto the towel.

Fold over and pin in place. Make sure that the edge of the biased tape from the hood is tucked into this biased tape. Top stitch to attach.

All done. Yipee!

Now it is all ready for baby bath time...

...and for giggles and smiles from your favorite baby.

You know what? I am pretty sure these would make awesome baby shower presents too. Just sayin'.

Uh Oh Box Chore List

Remember this little gem?

Boy I do! Talk about a Pinterest explosion. I had no idea that my little poem and sign for a Toy Ransom Box was going to be such a hit.

Thanks to all of you who facebooked and pinned this little project. I owe a whole heck of a lot of blog traffic to you.

Thanks for all the sweet words. They make my day every time I read them.

Thanks to all of those who picked up the Mama Bear reference, it is good to know there is a whole group of us paying homage to good ole' Mama Berenstain Bear.

AGAIN, thank you to all of you.

Now to your questions:


I had several of you ask about my chore list. In the original post I had both this Toy Ransom Box and I had chore charts and punch cards for my Little Men.

I wasn't sure which chore list you all were requesting, but I took a stab in the dark and guessed that you wanted the list of chores for the ransom bucket.

So I am giving you the option to download a pdf of the list of chores I use.

download HERE

You will notice I have incorporated regular chores, service opportunities, and physical activities. Hopefully this will give you a jumping off point if you were wondering what kind of chores to do.

Another question I got-

How do we go about enforcing cleaning out the box? Especially when there is apathy about getting the toys out of the box.

First, if there is a really special toy in the box, but the box has been full of other things for several days, then they have to clear out the other toys first.

Also, sometimes there is a general attitude of "Ah, who cares about those toys. We have more." Since it is most likely inevitable that this will happen, we also made the rule that the box has to be cleared out on a specific day each week. That way the toys don't just sit in there.

For us this is Fridays. Nothing fun happens until the box is cleared out. Everyone helps, regardless of who's toys are in there.

So I think that about covers everything.

We still are getting a lof use out of this system.

My boys are a lot more aware of when they leave stuff out. We seldom have to remind them more than once to gather up their toys. We simply have to say "Ransom Box" and they pick up their stuff.
Even amidst whining, it still gets cleaned up.

Haha...I said they cleaned, never said the complaining went away.

Thanks again everyone for all the love you have given this idea.
Thanks for spreading the word.
Thanks for sticking around and supporting my little blog.

I sure loves ya for it!

Chinese Coleslaw

Me and Coleslaw....

I have discussed it before HERE.

I well just "can't stend heem" (okay people does anyone but me know that is from Singing in the Rain...anyone...please someone tell me you know that part).

Insert awkward silence here.

Okay, so the truth is out.

Old movies...check.
Old movies that are musicals...check.
Coleslaw...uncheck...wait is that possible to uncheck an item. Officially making it possible.

With all my coleslaw hate out of the way, I now must issue a disclaimer.

Ready for it.

This Chinese coleslaw...oh for heaven's sake...make my serving a double.

Seriously people. I loved it. Loved it so much I just ate it straight out of the bowl. Not the individual serving size bowl. The big bowl. You know the big bowl you mix everything together in before you serve it up.

Yup, that bowl.

Just imagine it with me. Hubby and I bent over said giant bowl greedily shoveling forkfuls of Chinese coleslaw into our mouths.

To.Die.For.

So old movies...check.
Old movies that are musicals, like for instance Flower Drum Song...check.
Chinese coleslaw...CHECK.

The prepared coleslaw mix used in this recipe totally gets an upgrade thanks to the sunflower seeds, almonds, green onions, ramen noodles, and a pretty awesome dressing.

Match this up with some grilled chicken.

Instant Summer meal. Instant yumminess.

Chinese Coleslaw 
The Browneyed Baker


2 (16oz) bags coleslaw mix
1 cup sunflower kernels
1 cup slivered or sliced almonds
1 bunch (5-6) green onions, sliced
2 (3oz) package of Ramen noodles, crushed (seasoning packets set aside for dressing)

Dressing:
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup white vinegar
2 seasoning packets from Ramen

In a large bowl, mix coleslaw, sunflower kernels, almonds, green onions, and noodles.

In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients.

Pour the dressing over the coleslaw and toss until the salad is evenly coated.

Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.