The Fiskerelli Bellies

Blueberry Buckle

2012-02-27T21:52:00.000-05:00

This was a Grandma Olson recipe that I remember very well. My Grandpa Ole grewing blueberries in their backyard, and she made blueberry pies and blueberry buckle that would cause my husband to drool.

Which calls to mind the time Gram put a piece of blueberry pie in a bag of other miscellaneous items for us to take home after dinner at their house. We didn't know the pie was in the bag.

We promptly tucked that paper grocery bag into the closet to sort out later. I think there were shoes and gloves in the same bag.

A few weeks later we had a fruit fly problem in our tiny apartment. It took a week to finally find the disgusting pie mess in the bottom of the bag.

Now that I've ruined your appetite...

Blueberry Buckle

14/ c. softened butter

3/4 c. sugar

1 egg

1/2 c. milk

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 c. blueberries (fresh or frozen)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream together butter, sugar and egg until mooth. Add milk and dry ingredients, stirring just until combined. The batter will be thick. Fold in blueberries gently, and press into a lightly greased 9x13 pan.

Crumb topping:

1/4 c. softened butter

1/2 c. sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/3 c. flour

Cut all ingredients together with a fork until crumbly. Sprinkle over batter.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Also delicious with blackberries!

We had this for breakfast last week as I began to whittle down our supply of berries from last year. It won't be long until we're picking fresh at the farm.

Linked to: Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam

Delicious Dishes at It's a Blog Party

Golf & Grades

2012-02-27T19:40:00.000-05:00

Some of you have been following Avery's journey since we began posting on CaringBridge in 2008 when he was first diagnosed with leukemia. You'll remember how concerned we were with the long-term effects of cranial-spinal radiation as part of his relapse treatment.

When Avery had his scans to determine in exactly what areas the relapse had occurred, the doctors also researched for damage caused by the chemotherapy. When they reported their findings they said that his liver was damaged, and there was damage to the white matter of his brain. The radiation would worsen both conditions.

Those were the scientific facts that painted a picture of multitude of hurdles Avery would have to face for the remainder of his life.

Avery made the golf team for his high school last week, and is able to carry his own bag, with no health waivers necessary. Avery started this school year in all honors classes, and is on the honor roll.

Science has it's limits, and God has none. Golf and grades reminded me of that fact this week.

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Menu Plan 2/26

2012-02-26T19:51:00.000-05:00

Spring cleaning season is just around the corner, and I'm starting with our refrigerator and freezers. We're going to do a pantry/freezer challenge to use up most of our food supply.

You'll probably notice a lot of repetition in my menu planning as I work my way through our stockpiles.

Breakfast:

Chocolate muffins

Pumpkin Raisin Muffins

Egg sandwiches on English muffins

Lunch:

BLT's and potato salad

Leftovers

Sandwiches

Dinner:

Empanadas (our focus on the Dominican Republic continues)

Beef roast, twiced baked potatoes,

Grilled venison tenderloin, roasted red potatoes

Chicken and veggie kabobs

Manicotti, garlic knots

Grilled pizza, Caesar salad

I'm limiting all grocery shopping to the produce and dairy aisles for this week, and hoping only to spend $50. Hopefully that will cover the gallons of Gatorade Avery needs to drink.

I hope you'll all stick with me through this challenge. I'll probably need some inspiration from time to time!

101 Frugal Tips #11

2012-02-24T07:23:00.000-05:00

#11: Unplug

This here is what you call a twofer. Choose one day a week to unplug from all media. Literally.

We are going to do this for one month on Wednesday nights. On Tuesday night before bed we are going to walk around the house and unplug TV's, computers, games, etc. They won't be plugged in again until Thursday morning. I'm getting a brief reprieve for posting to Fiskerelli Bellies and printing my grocery list on Wednesday morning if necessary.

For us Wednesday means school, homework, church. We won't be making that great a sacrifice as we don't have much free time. The time we do have will be spent around the dinner table together, brainstorming ideas for finding more savings, thinking of ways to serve others, and reconnecting.

You get double the benefits when you apply this tip. The financial impact probably won't be that substantial, but the family impact could be. A byproduct might even be the opportunity for some real creativity.

Does your family enact "unplug days?" If so, what are the results?

Linked to: Frugal Friday at Life as Mom

Leftover Casserole

2012-02-23T06:59:00.000-05:00

I do a lot of cooking in bulk, especially now that we have five adult appetites to satisfy. It's nothing for me to boil up a ten pound bag of potatoes to mash. I might cook three or four whole chickens at a time.

The first day we have roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and veggies. The second day I might make chicken gravy and biscuits. The third day I put together "Leftover Casserole" and freeze whatever remains. This "recipe" is all about making the leftovers seem like a whole new meal.

For a 9x13 pan:

3 cups cooked turkey or chicken, shredded or cubed

2 cups gravy or 2 cans of cream of chicken or celery soup

1 cup cooked carrots, corn, broccoli, or peas

3 cups mashed potatoes or 2 boxes of stuffing prepared

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

Mix poultry, soup or gravy, and veggies in the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Mix in cheese if desired. Top with stuffing and/or mashed potatoes. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until heated through completely.

Do you intentionally plan leftovers or utilitize bulk cooking? What's your favorite leftover makeover?

Linked to: Ultimate Recipe Swap at Life as Mom

Replacement Parts

2012-02-21T22:07:00.000-05:00

The more I'm in the kitchen the more I appreciate having good tools.
My apple peeler/corer/slicer is a new favorite. I may be especially glad to have it should my apple trees decide to grow. I want it to live to see the day that my trees produce bushels of apples.

I did tons of research before buying my new gadget even though it wasn't that expensive. When I buy a tool I want it to work well. Every model had pros and cons, but the one con of the model I chose was that the screw holding the handle would strip and loosen after several uses.

I bought it anyway after reading several reviews. A few clever souls had figured out a good fix for the problem that cost just a few cents.

Check into which replacement parts are available before you buy by checking out user reviews.
Do a little internet research about which parts can be replaced by companies other than the manufacturer.
Keep a list of replacement parts and stores that offer them with your instructions or receipts.
Keep a file of information on all your favorite tools including warranty, date of purchase, purchase price, company name, etc.

A few simple steps at the time of purchase can extend the life of your tools saving both time and money.

Linked to: Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family

Peanut Butter Oreo Dip

2012-02-21T10:30:00.000-05:00

When I first saw this Peanut Butter Oreo Dip recipe I knew it would be well received, but like every other recipe, I couldn't resist putting my own stamp on it. I cut it down a bit because with this dip a little goes a long way. White chocolate is surprisingly unpopular with my girlies which led me to cut back on that and add in some semi-sweet.

Adapted from Shugary Sweets:
3/4 c. cup creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup white chocolate chips
1/3 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup Nutella
8-10 Oreos, crushed

In a microwave safe bowl combine all ingredients except Oreos. Microwave in 30 second intervals until chocolate chips are melted. Stir well and fold in Oreos. Serve with fruit, pretzels or graham crackers. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.

We love this dip with apples and bananas. Using fruit as the vehicle for our chocolate makes us feel better about our indulgence. Pretzels add a little bit of salt that satisfies two cravings at once.

Linked to: Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
Delicious Dishes at It's a Blog Party

Laugh 'Til You Cry

2012-02-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

Hubs is quite a comedian. Sometimes we call him a "commode - ian" but it's always good clean fun. He makes us laugh. Daily.

Occasionally we even laugh 'til we cry. It's not uncommon to be wiping our eyes on the backs of our sleeves. Every once in a while I laugh until my sides hurt.

When I look back on some of the silly arguments of our newlywed days they frequently stemmed from his not taking a situation seriously, or more likely, my taking a situation way too seriously. I didn't appreciate his sense of humor.

Over the past few years I've come to be quite grateful for our in-house comedian, and a small fraction of his sense of humor may have even rubbed off on me. I hope so. And, I hope you get to laugh 'til you cry once in a while, too.

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

A Very Vanilla Valentine {Giveaway Winner}

2012-02-19T23:01:00.000-05:00

The winner of the homemade vanilla as selected by random.org is commenter number 5, Michelle! Thank you all for entering.

Menu Plan 2/19

2012-02-19T22:56:00.000-05:00

I'm very sorry to have been MIA for the past few days. Our church suffered the unexpected loss of a wonderful gentleman. His home-going was a great testament to a life lived in the service of others.

After watching this video interview by Crystal at MoneySavingMom.com on fasting from excess, we've decided to do simple meals similar to our Compassion child's typical diet on Monday each week through Easter. We're going to commit to learning a bit more about the Dominican Republic each week as well.

Breakfast:

Chocolate chip muffins

Cheese omelet

Blueberry buckle

Lunch:

Grilled cheese and tomato soup

Monte Cristo sandwich

Leftovers

Dinner:

‘La Bandera Dominicana’ (the Dominican flag: red beans, white rice, and meat)

Chicken parmesan and angel hair pasta with homemade sauce

Meatloaf and mashed potatoes

Chili and cornbread muffins

Hamburgers and pasta salad

Pot roast with roasted vegetables

I would encourage you to take a moment to watch Crystal's video interview. If you decided to participate I would love to hear what your plan to fast from excess looks like.

Spinach & Artichoke Dip

2012-02-16T07:04:00.000-05:00

On occasion we make an appetizer buffet for a special dinner. It's a good way to make a little something that makes each family member feel special. Hubby and I always choose Spinach & Artichoke Dip for our part of the menu. Easy and cheesy works well for this family and since it contains veggies we can claim a little nutritional value.

Spinach & Artichoke Dip

14 oz. can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped fine

10 oz. frozen spinach, thawed and well drained, patted dry

3/4 c. parmesan cheese

3/4 c. light mayo

3/4 c. shredded mozzarella, divided

1 tsp. garlic

Reserve 1/4 c. mozzarella. Mix remaining ingredients well. Spread in a pie-sized pan and top with reserved mozzarella. Bake for 20 min. @ 350*.

Serve with tortilla or pita chips.

Are we the only ones who love appetizers enough to make them a special occasion meal?

Linked to: Ultimate Recipe Swap at Life As Mom

Gift Giving Made Easy

2012-02-14T22:53:00.000-05:00

Last week I wrote about helping your guy to give you gifts you will love. One commenter pointed me in the direction of Giftster... and I love it!

Giftster allows you to make a wishlist for any occasion and share it with friends and family. The website is very user friendly. I had my wishlist set up with five items in just ten minutes.

Each item listed has a place to enter the price and a link to the product at a merchant website. You can even prioritize gifts within your list using a star ranking. Giftster eliminates the need to create a wishlist or registry at any one store, letting you make gift selections from all over the world wide web.

After you make your list you can create a group and share your wishlist within that group. I really like this feature as it as you can share lists with appropriate groups making one list for immediate family and another for friends and extended family.

The applications are endless, and extend beyond birthdays and baby showers. Our church is currently furnishing a new building and having a centralized list with items that have already been purchased checked off would be a great way to organize.

I'm going to set up a list for each child this weekend and encourage them to keep 8-10 items on it at all times. Since our family is spread out all over the country sharing gift ideas will be much easier!

Do you use Giftster? How do you make it work for you?

Linked to: Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family

A Very Vanilla Valentine {Giveaway}

2012-02-14T11:31:00.001-05:00

Valentine's Day calls for a little love for my readers, don'tcha think? I know ... you're thinking about chocolate today. I, however, have vanilla on my mind because I just started another batch of homemade.
Homemade organic vanilla is so heavenly it almost makes me willing to pass on the chocolate... almost.

Enter to win one 4 oz. bottle of vanilla extract made from organic Madagascar vanilla beans by leaving a comment on this post. You can earn up to five additional entries by:

Following @fiskerellibelli on Twitter {leave a comment with your Twitter name}
Following The Fiskerelli Bellies on Facebook {leave a comment}
Following The Fiskerelli Bellies by email {leave a comment}
Tweet about the giveaway including a link {leave a comment with Tweet URL}
Share this giveaway on Facebook {leave a comment}

This giveaway will close Friday at midnight and a winner will be chosen using random.org. I will announce the winner here no later than Monday. The winner must respond by using the email me link to provide mailing address. Good luck!

Linked to: Party Time at It's a Blog Party

An Easy Valentine Craft

2012-02-12T22:13:00.005-05:00

This is a re-post of an old favorite for those of you who are new around here. We've made many variations of this easy craft, including a red and pink Valentine version, and our candy bouquets continue to get rave reviews on each occasion.

You'll find the directions for making a candy bouquet here. Do you have an easy-to-customize go-to craft for special occasions? We'd love for you to share!

Menu Plan 2/12

2012-02-12T21:41:00.000-05:00

We had a very busy weekend, and I can barely keep my eyes open. However, my dependence on a menu plan has actually grown to the point where this is one chore I'll do on a Sunday evening. That's saying something!

Breakfast:

Cinnamon Raisin Bread toast
Heart-shaped Cinnamon Pancakes with applesauce
Donut muffins

Lunch:
Hot turkey sandwiches
Chicken caesar salad
Leftovers
Sandwiches & wraps

Dinner:
Quesadillas
Crockpot chicken stroganoff
Chicken enchilada casserole
Hamburgers
Batter-dipped chicken sandwiches

Since we have Valentine's Day and dinner with friends I get to take it easy this week. I hope to use some of my extra time to whip up a couple of new creations and have a mini-freezer cooking session.

For now, I'm off to get some zzz's before a new week kicks me in the behind.

Favorite Sugar Cookies

2012-02-09T09:31:00.000-05:00

We break the rules for holidays. We've converted to healthier fats like olive oil and coconut oil for every day, but holidays are about the treats. So, I break out the shortening to make these cookies 3 or 4 times a year.

This is my favorite sugar cookie recipe:
1 ½ c. sugar
1 c. shortening
¾ c. milk
2 eggs

Mix together and slowly add:

1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
3c. flour

Blend into moist ingredients adding just a cup at a time (unless you like flour in your hair).

1-2 c. additional flour

Blend and knead in additional flour, just enough so dough can be handled to roll. Roll out and cut in desired shapes. Bake @ 350* approx. 10 min. Makes 3-5 dozen depending on size of cookie cutter. Cool completely before frosting.

Icing:
½ c. butter
2 TBSP. milk
2-4 cups confectioner's sugar

Blend all ingredients until smooth. Spread on cooled cookies.

If I could only make one dessert from now to eternity, it would be these sugar cookies, and my family would love me for it. It's my most requested recipe.

Linked to: Ultimate Recipe Swap at Life as Mom

101 Frugal Tips #10

2012-02-08T21:00:00.000-05:00

#10: Make the "list".

I'm going to break out the dreaded "b" word of frugal living. Budget. There I said it.

Seriously though, you can't find where to save money if you don't know where you spend it.

We've always had a "budget," but the problem was that it was incomplete. We knew what we needed to pay as far as monthly expenses, but were always "surprised" by annual and semi-annual expenses.

It's crazy to think you have a working budget if it doesn't include everything. EVERYTHING.

A few years ago we spent an entire year making sure our budget was complete. On our very basic monthly budget form we made note of every expense that came up. Baseball registration, birthday gifts, termite bond, property tax, etc. We built in a safety net to keep "surprises" at bay.
Think of your budget as a pet... tame and train the beast. Treat it as a living thing that needs to see the light of day frequently and be taken out for a walk to make sure it's in good shape.

So, make the "list". {We'll avoid the term "budget" for those of you with sensitive ears.} Include all your expenses. Go through your records from last year and include all occasional expenses.

Knowing where your money goes is one of the best ways to regain control.

Don't Make Him Guess

2012-02-07T22:48:00.002-05:00

I saw this window frame in a little shop my husband and I walked through a few weeks ago. I nudged him and whispered, "This would be the perfect gift if a guy wanted to surprise his sweetheart. I know a guy who loves to surprise his sweetheart!" Subtle, huh?

I spent years foolishly lamenting my husband's gift giving abilities. He does fantastic with huge surprises. I mean the man booked a flight to Colorado to visit my sister, secretly coordinating it with her while timing it with Avery's treatments when he was sick. However, other occasions, when a little something is all that's required, make him want to pull his hair out. Why? Because I'm not good at telling him what I want, and he can't read my mind. ESP is not one of his talents (and he has many).

This is really important if your family is living a frugal lifestyle. Wasting time and money on a gift that misses the mark is frustrating for everyone.

You also have to be honest. Don't say, "I don't need you to buy me flowers," and then expect to get flowers.

Just because your man isn't great at purchasing gifts that make you ooohhh and aaaahhhh (he doesn't even know who Michael Kors is) doesn't mean he doesn't want to buy you something that makes your heart melt. Let him off the hook and lose the subtlety. Don't make him guess. Come Valentine's Day you'll be glad you did.

Linked to: Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family

Breakfast Bubble Bread

2012-02-07T09:21:00.002-05:00

This gooey sweet breakfast bread is a special occasion recipe. (We seem to have a lot of special occasions around here, don't we?) I mess with many recipes, changing things up and attempting to make them healthier, but I don't mess with this one. Maybe that is because we've been making it the same for years, and it's a reminder of my childhood.

This recipe was given to my mom by our neighbor across the street when I was just a kid. Betsy was a very kind lady and a talented artist. I cut through her yard for years as I walked home from school. She let us sleep in her front room when bats got into our house and dad was working third shift. Her family even allowed ours to use their swimming pool. Her kids were all older than us, and we felt so cool when they let us play basketball in their driveway. Betsy lost her battle with cancer several years ago now, but I always think of her when I make Breakfast Bubble Bread.

Breakfast Bubble Bread

1 stick butter, melted

3/4 c. brown sugar

1/4 c. milk

2 pks. instant vanilla pudding

2 loaves frozen bread dough -OR- 25 oz. frozen dinner rolls, thawed

Mix together melted butter, brown sugar, milk, and pudding. Grease a 9 x 13 pan. Cut one loaf of bread dough (or half of the dinner rolls) into bite size pieces and spread in the bottom of a prepared pan. Pour pudding mixture over the bread. Top with pieces of remaining bread dough.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until bread is lightly browned.

We'll probably make Valentine's Day our next special ~~excuse~~ occasion. We probably won't even use plates!

Linked to: Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam

Delicious Dishes at It's a Blog Party

Gardening in February

2012-02-07T07:03:00.000-05:00

The weather has been so mild here in North Carolina. Hubby and I decided to walk out to the garden to talk over some plans, and under some leaves found carrots sprouting! I think they came up where I had spilled some seeds when we did a second planting this fall.

Mind you, I'm no green thumb. I have a lot to learn. But, I'm already looking forward to spring, digging in the dirt and planting seeds. Watching things grow gives me a feeling of hope and renewal. There's a special sense of achievement when we're putting food on our table that we grew in our own backyard.

We dug up a whole bucket of carrots on Saturday afternoon. Every time I pull out one to nibble I find a smile on my face.

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers.

Menu Plan 2/5

2012-02-06T12:55:00.000-05:00

This is going to be a long week. We've been exposed to a whole plethora of germs and the weather has been crazy. I could tell two out of three kids weren't feeling great this morning. If we escape the germs there is a calendar full of events waiting.

I'm very glad I prepped meals for this week in advance which will make it much easier if the germs decide to descend on me.

Breakfast:

Oat Muffins (new to us recipe from Pary Moppins)

Waffles

Hard boiled eggs with toast

Lunch:

Sloppy joes

Beef & Bean Burritos

Leftovers

Sandwiches

Dinner:

Meatball subs

Taco Bar

Chicken in Garlic Herb Sauce

Ponzu Chicken Stirfry

Buffalo Chicken Wraps

Spaghetti with Homemade Sauce

I'm hoping to find a few minutes in this crazy week to explore Pinterest for some inspiration. I'm starting to feel trapped in a cooking rut. Oh, who am I kidding? There's always time for Pinterest!

What We're Reading: The Myth of Adolescence

2012-02-03T15:01:00.000-05:00

Parents who are willing to demand responsible behavior from their children need not fear the teen years. Teenagers can be terrific human beings.
-Dr. David Alan Black
The Myth of Adolescence: Raising Responsible Children in an Irresponsible Society

To be completely truthful, I'm not a big fan of child rearing books. In order for a book to be widely popular it is inherently necessary that it be watered down for the masses. It's possible that I appreciated this book because it reflects our own parenting style.

The central idea presented is that the teen years ought to be approached as critical preparation for adulthood rather than an extended period of childhood. Dr. Black explains that adolescence itself is a new concept that has been used to allow young adults a period of irresponsibility that is often carried on as the individual moves out into society.

"Young people need significant interaction with supportive adults in order to become secure adults themselves. An environment with too few adults not only produces children who are more active, but also less cooperative, more distracted, more egocentric, and more child-oriented than adult-oriented."

Dr. Black uses information about Jesus' youth as a guideline for how children can be prepared to be responsible adults. I found this aspect of the book very intriguing.

I appreciated this book for it's Biblical basis and thought-provoking perspective. I still really love having a house full of big kids, and am glad that it's possible to have terrific teens!

Do you read child rearing books? Have any made a lasting impression or informed your parenting in a positive way?

101 Frugal Tips #9

2012-02-03T07:07:00.000-05:00

#9: Don't follow the trend. Set the trend.

There's nothing unique about being trendy. There is something very unique about being the one who started the trend.

Being frugal doesn't mean you can't have style, but being a follower has led a good many folks right down the dark and gloomy path to debt and despair. It isn't hard to find ways to express your style frugally. Thrift stores, clearance racks, and swap meets with friends are great ways to trim the costs of home decorating and fashionable apparel.
You know what the key to being a trend-setter is? Confidence. When you have confidence in your choices, others will have confidence in your choices.

Set a frugal trend and not only will you help your bottom line, but you may inspire those around you to walk a wiser path as well!

Linked to: Frugal Friday at Life As Mom

January Goal Check

2012-02-02T07:46:00.000-05:00

At the beginning of the year I set some goals for various aspects of my life. I'm going to try to do a goal check at the end of each month.

Personal:
Lose 10-15 pounds {Gained 1 lb. Argh.}
Exercise more regularly {Not consistently yet.}
Read at least two books per month {Read four.}

Home Management:
Open our home to guests at least once a month {Just once in January.}
Include food pantry donations in monthly grocery budget {Starting small.}
Practice weekly menu planning {Learning to make it work for me.}
Keep a more organized pantry {Cleaned it out last week. Now to organize.}

Family:
Reinstate a monthly game/puzzle night {There's been a puzzle on the table for a while.}
Work on photo albums together {Gathered a few supplies.}

Blogging:
Organize recipe categories {Working on it.}
New series: 101 Frugal Tips & Tricks {#1-8 have been posted, several more written.}
Keep a calendar for posts {It's been a huge help!}

Financial:
Persue additional revenue streams {One baby step taken and research under way for another.}
Pay off medical bills {Just managed not dig a deeper hole.}
Open college savings accounts {Still researching how best to do this.}

I'm working on one important aspect of my goal-setting... breaking my goals into small manageable pieces. I often fail to do this and get overwhelmed with what seems like an impossible to-do list.

I have Eat That Frog on my list of books to read. I think I should move it to the top of my list!

Cheaper Than the Thrift Store {Dress to Skirt}

2012-01-31T22:22:00.005-05:00

I don't always find my best deals at the thrift store. The average price for a skirt in my area is $3.50 and a dress costs about $6, and they are in used condition. Sometimes a better deal can be found on a brand new item with a little patience and creativity.

I was pretty excited a couple of weeks ago when Walmart rolled out a rack of clothing marked at $2. I snagged some shirts that the girls dressed up (more on that another time), but walked away from some summer dresses because I just don't do spaghetti straps.

When the little knit dresses were still there a week later I decided to try one on as a potential bathing suit cover, and it dawned on me. I pulled the top down to my waist and realized what a pretty skirt it would make.

If you can sew a straight line you can replicate this dress to skirt transformation in about fifteen minutes.

Use a couple of pins to mark the row of shirring you want to sit at your waist. If I had left some more at the top I would have had a maxi skirt, but the first tier didn't sit at a very flattering place on my hips.

Measure a piece of elastic the same length as the circumference of the dress and sew it with a zigzag stitch one row of shirring above where you want the waistline. For a smooth waistline sew between the lines of existing stitching.

Cut just above the elastic. You want to do this after the elastic is in place as the elastic helps hold the shape.

Roll the raw edge down folding the elastic to the inside of the skirt, and sew down with a zigzag stitch.

This is the new waistband from the inside. The zigzag stitch allows the elastic to stretch without pulling out stitches.

Voila! A lovely lightweight knit skirt for just $2!

Linked to: Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family

Totally Tutorials Tuesday at Measured by the Heart