Costa Rica was a fantastic family vacation, and in the next week or two I’ll get around to sharing some fun photos from the trip. Today I have even more exciting news. We’re having another baby!

Yesterday afternoon I was able to meet little Anderson #3 on screen at an ultrasound, and his/her little heart was fluttering away, a comforting sight for early in pregnancy. Last night we sent out this little stop-motion video announcement to family and friends, sharing the happy news.

I’m just over 8 weeks along, and feeling pretty great. Nausea all day, but so far not too much vomit (not like my 3x/day with Eliot). I bought a couple pairs of maternity pants today, because buttons are already uncomfortable! Luckily, by the third time around, I’m totally ready to embrace the bump, as early as it wants to appear. I’ll start documenting with a Maternity Countdown Tee next week.

It goes without saying that this baby, and my family are my number one priority. My ever-long to-do list has gone out the window and I am making sure to take it easy, rest when I’m tired, eat when I’m hungry, and take a warm bubble bath every night (occasionally with a bowl of chocolate ice cream in hand.)

In some ways, this blog has been like a child to me…I began writing here even before Milo was a twinkle in my eye. With each new step in life, I’ve adjusted my dedication to blogging, and really found so much fulfillment and enjoyment in sharing here. Above all, I value the relationships that I’ve made with readers and other bloggers within this online community.

Preparing for this third baby, however, has invited me to re-evaluate the rest of my life, and for now, I am going to choose baby over blog. There doesn’t seem to be space for it all right now! Some folks, indeed lots and lots of you, can make it all work. I feel like it’s time for me to take a step away from blogging and allow the time I would have spent preparing posts and interacting online to become a free space for new experiences.

I do have some fun things already prepared to share over the next couple months, and I won’t be a complete stranger here. But, I will be taking a no-pressure, stress-free approach to both blogging and living my day to day. If you want to keep up with my infrequent posts without clicking here directly, feel free to add One Little Minute to your feedly or bloglovin readers.

Also, I’m so excited to be teaching at Sewing Summit 2013 in Salt Lake City, with this whole line up of amazing teachers! I had such a blast last year, and can’t wait to join the fun again. Tickets available here.

And, I’m pretty addicted to Instagram, and have begun to use my feed as a quick, low impact method of sharing pieces of my life and projects. So, feel free to follow along there, too if you miss me;) @livefreemiranda

Share/Bookmark

The post I’m back, and having a baby! appeared first on One Little Minute.

I absolutely love Costa Rica, have spent a lot of time there, and am thrilled with the chance to return. I’m about to take a little walk down memory lane. Just fair warning.

After my first year of college, I was uncertain about my career path, but I did know for sure that I wanted to learn to speak Spanish fluently. So, rather than return to school the second year, I took a semester off and headed to live in the small town of Nicoya, Costa Rica to attend a private Spanish Immersion program (something like this, though I’m not sure this is the exact same program I attended). It was a unique experience, living with a Costa Rican family, walking down the dusty back road to class, and spending the weekday afternoons exploring the town and eating a lot of ice cream.

I remember very clearly the morning that my “mamita” knocked on the door to my room, telling me that breakfast was ready, and for the first time I actually understood every word she said. It was about eight weeks into the intensive program, and the most thrilling moment! I had been studying and practicing a lot, but after that breakthrough, it was like a wall had been taken down and I was able to absorb the language like a sponge. I began speaking as well as understanding, and by the time I left I was confident in my ability to hold a full conversation with a native speaker.

My little brother Taylor and his two friends had come on the self-guided study abroad, too. They each lived in a different home stay from me, but we spent every weekend together. We rode the bus all over the country, checking out beaches, waterfalls, jungles, and karaoke bars along the way. Taylor bought a surfboard for $50 from a local, and we all tried our legs (unsuccessfully for the most part) at surfing the famous Costa Rican waves.

Every weekend brought a new adventure. One night, after being caught in the most insane downpour on the beach, with no planned housing for the night, we met an American who said we could use his mother’s beach house. It had been unused for a year or two, and so it wouldn’t be an imposition. Well, when we finally found the circuit board to flip the electricity on, we discovered the whole place was infested with huge jungle spiders! There was an audible skittering when the lights flipped on, and the walls and floor were literally crawling with long, spindly legs. After a (very) short debate about the ethics of refusing the kindness (that involved my brother bringing up the real possibility of not living through the night), we left a note and high-tailed on the dark roads to the nearest hotel, where we indulged in a late night dip in the pool and a huge, anxiety-calming pizza.

Another weekend we (I, rather) met some cool, local guys on the dance floor in a funky little beach town, and they agreed to take us to a secret waterfall the next day. In the morning, we hiked with them to the nearby waterfall that was crawling with tourists. Then followed as they cut off through the jungle and began climbing up the adjacent hill. A half-hour later, we were standing in front of the waterfall that fell above the well-known falls, and spent the afternoon by ourselves swimming in the pool and swinging from the twenty-foot rope swing that was tied to a tree overhanging the falls. This experience summed up the magic of the semester, and we all still remember it fondly as one of the best days we’ve spent.

The year after my semester in Costa Rica, I was itching to return. So, I found two willing friends and  planned a ten day backpacking trip. We traveled by bus, and spent most of our time hiking in nature reserves. The most intense adventure of the trip, by miles, was backpacking in to the Sirena Research Station in Corcovado National Park. We hitched a ride in the back of a truck to the trailhead, then paid our entrance fee and got advice from the ranger that added up to something like “When you lose the trail, look for the plastic bottles tied to the trees. You have to cross two rivers before the station. After the second river, you have about a kilometer left. Good luck.” And we headed off.

No doubt the scenery and wildlife was incredible. In the first hour of the hike we spotted a bright yellow Eyelash Viper sunning on a rock right next to the trail, a group of Howler Monkeys hopping in the branches, and several colorful Scarlet Macaws dotted throughout the trees. It was incredible, but the day was hot, and as the hike continued on we ran lower and lower on energy…and water. We crossed the first river at low tide, and wound in and out of the jungle and beach, following the plastic bottles tied to trees as trail markers. There weren’t any other hikers on the path, and after several hours we were out of water, rationing trail-mix, and getting desperate for our destination.

I remember trudging along the beach, not having the energy left to carry on a conversation. When I looked up to check for the next trail marker, I didn’t spot a plastic bottle, but a huge American Crocodile lumbering down the sand about twenty yards in front of us. I stopped abruptly, causing my friends to stop and look at me, confused. I motioned ahead to the wild animal, and we all stared, wide-eyed, as it slipped into the waves.

We consulted, feeling fresh energy from the adrenaline of the encounter. Recalling our elementary educations, we agreed that crocodiles were fresh-water creatures, so the water he entered must be decidedly less salty, probably because of the nearness of the second river that we were to cross. This information both eased and added to our burdens, because although crossing the second river meant only one kilometer to food, water, and a place to rest for the night, it also meant crossing a crocodile infested river!!  With no water left, and hours of wild jungle between us and the ranger station, we really had no choice but to continue on.

About a hundred yards ahead, we ran into the second river. The plastic trail parkers led us up off the beach for a few minutes, to a spot in the river where crossing would be easier. The water was a murky brownish green, with no visiblity, and we had no idea how deep it might get in the fifty yards we needed to cross. When we again freaked ourselves out by remembering the crocodile, we agreed that we were in as much danger dehydrating as we were chancing a crocodile attack. I rolled up my skirt (yeah, I was hiking in a skirt…) and stepped into the river. The water came to my knees for the first few steps, then deepened until I was mid-thigh, and finally, in the center of the river I had to raise my pack above my head because the water was approaching my waist. At that point I started rising out again, and made it to the other side without incident (and with one well-timed, candid snapshot from my friend behind me to record the unbelievable experience.)

The research station was indeed just another half-hour past the river, and we welcomed the warm, purified water, tuna salad with crackers, cold showers, and warm sleeping bags. When we hiked out the next afternoon, re-crossing the river didn’t cause the same level of anxiety. And when we were surrounded by a pack of growling coatis, we had the peace of mind to walk slowly and keep our cool, because after all, we had crossed a crocodile infested river. We all emerged at the ranger station tired, blistered, and ready for a cold orange soda. The experience had been beyond our expectations, and still tops my list as the most crazy adventure I’ve ever had.

Now, fast forward ten years, a husband, and two small children. I’m looking forward to making new Costa Rican memories that involve more sand castles (photo via) and less threat to life. I hope to be able to see the trip through my children’s eyes and create some unforgettable adventures for them. I’m sure we’ll dig for pirate’s treasure (which reminds me I need to buy some chocolate coins before we leave…), spot monkeys on a (guided) walk through the jungle, and spend lots of much-anticipated time playing with cousins. In addition to fun with my kiddos, I’m so looking forward to spending ten whole days with my husband. Turns out working at a busy law firm is pretty time-consuming, and I can’t wait to just hang out together.

Also, I can’t wait to unplug. Ten days in my real life with my real family will be a good grounder. As much as I love the internet/social media/texting/blogging/instagram, it begins to control me if I don’t take good care to keep it in control myself. When I leave the states, I’ll be signing off of virtual reality until I return. Have a wonderful, wonderful couple weeks!

Share/Bookmark

The post My Costa Rican Past and Present appeared first on One Little Minute.

A few weeks ago I was getting packed for a quick trip to Texas, and I was struck with the immediate need for a pair of tuxedo stripe leggings. I think I was pulling subliminal inspiration from these pants and this post, and I had to have some for comfy, cool plane travel. Funny the life of a seamstress, right? “I must have xyz, so I’ll make xyz.” Pretty cool.

Aaaanyway. Since I have a fantastic basic leggings pattern, made to my own measurements using this tutorial that I made for Stretch Yourself, whipping these babies up was as simple as modifying the pattern with a couple slashes. Let me walk you though it, in case you want to make your own!

You’ll need two colors of stretchy knit, preferably a four-way stretch with some lycra or spandex in the blend (more about knits here.) About 1 yard of your main fabric and 1/4 yard of your stripe. Also, you’ll need a length of elastic that will fit around your waist.

For all basic drafting and construction of the leggings, I’m going to send you right on over to this post about drafting and sewing leggings. Today, I’m just going to show you the pattern variation to make the tuxedo stripe.

The basic pattern block for the leggings creates a single pattern piece to cut twice, one for each leg. The center line of the legging of the pattern is the outseam of the leggings, so to create a stripe along that outseam, you need to measure equal distance from the center line on the pattern and create lines along the length of the pattern, dividing it into three parts. When you slash the pattern along these lines before adding seam allowance, you create the tuxedo stripe legging pattern. The center piece becomes the stripe, and you can make it as narrow or wide as you like. Mine is about 1.5″ wide (so I drew my lines and slashed my pattern 0.75″ on either side of the center line.)

Once you’ve slashed your pattern block, you need to add seam allowance, as well as hem and waistband allowance to each piece. Then you’re ready to cut the pieces from your knit fabric and sew them together! Make sure you pay attention to the grain of your knit when cutting. I was a little reckless (as I tend to be) and cut both of my leg pieces together, without lining up the grain properly. You may notice in the photo below that my left legging leg twists slightly to the front. This is totally because of the off-center grain pulling the center. I don’t mind it all that much, but if I were more of a perfectionist, I might. And, I’ll be sure to pay more attention when cutting the next time I make these.

The only variation in the construction of the Tuxedo Striped Leggings and the basic version is that you must stitch the stripe back into the center of each leg piece before following the instructions in this post for basic legging construction.

 I’m kind of totally in love with these pants and wear them far more often than I probably should. They’re comfy, but still have an edge of style because of the tuxedo stripe detail. Now, go forth and sew your own!

Also, see that cute tee shirt with a little pop of sparkle? It’s my newest Briar Tee, and I’ll be sharing the full DIY tomorrow over on Megan Nielsen Design Diary, so make sure to check it out!

Share/Bookmark

The post Simple Handmade Tuxedo Stripe Leggings appeared first on One Little Minute.

Happy April! Not only is it finally starting to warm up and bloom around these parts, but April 2013 is the very first National Serger Month! Baby Lock (the company behind the very first sergers for home sewists) thought it was time to celebrate this wonderful machine and all of the projects and techniques that can be made with it. All month long, check in at the National Serger Month website to learn about sergers, enter for a chance to win a serger, and check out simple serger projects!

My love of sergers is no secret. Because I sew with knits for clothing so often, I actually use my serger far more than my sewing machine, and my Baby Lock Diana has changed my life. I love the ease of using a serger, and the way it allows me to sew stretchy fabric with ease. I also adore the perfectly finished edge it gives, as well as all the variation in stitching techniques that I can use to create visual interest on my projects. I was thrilled when I was asked to participate in National Serger Month by sharing a simple serger DIY. To celebrate spring along with National Serger Month I decided to whip up a simple layered skirt!

SUPPLIES: • Baby Lock Serger • Serger thread • 1-2 yards of lightweight knit fabric (like cotton jersey) • ½ yard of medium weight stretch knit (like double knit or interlock) • 1 yard clear elastic To begin,  measure your Waist and Hip (around the widest part of your bum) and write those numbers down.

Cut your meduim weight knit to a 14”x Your Waist-3”. We are subtracting inches because the knit is stretchy and we want the waistband to keep your skirt up!

Cut 2 strips of lightweight knit fabric to 5”x Hip+2”. We are adding 2” here to make sure the skirt fits comfortably over your bum!

Cut 2 strips of lightweight knit fabric to 7”x Hip+4”. The extra inches on these strips will add a little gather to the layers

Cut 1 strip of lightweight knit to 7”xHip+5”. The bottom layer has just one additional inch for gathering.

Cut one strip of clear elastic to your Waist-3” measurement.

 Serge the waistband and each of the strips into loops, with the right sides together.

Serger along one edge of the three 7” loops to finish the edge.

Fold the Waistband in half with the serged seam on the inside. Layer one 5” loop on the outside of one 7” loop, with right sides towards the inside.

Layer one 5” loop on the outside of one 7” loop, with right sides towards the inside. Pin the elastic to the centers and sides of the loops. The elastic will be much smaller than the loops.

Pin the elastic to the centers and sides of the loops. The elastic will be much smaller than the loops.Thread the elastic through the top of the serger foot, and begin serging the elastic to the raw edge of the layered loops, pulling the elastic to fit the length of the loops as you go. This way, the elastic will gather the fabric to the proper size to fit onto the waistband!

Layer the folded waistband onto the outside of the gathered loops, then serger together. When you finish this step, you will have the first gathered layer of the three-layer skirt attached to the waistband.

Layer the second 7” loop with the final 5” loop on top of it, with the unfinished edges together and the right sides towards the center. Line this stack up with the raw edge of the the first underlayer, which is underneath the finished outer layer on the skirt. Serge the raw edges together, adding the second layer to the skirt! Line the unfinished edge of the final 7” loop up with the unfinished edge of the second underlayer on the skirt. Serge in place with right sides together to finish the third layer of the skirt. You’re finished!!

The stretchy waistband can be worn high, or folded down. I love the casual, beachy vibe of this simple skirt. What better way to celebrate the upcoming warm weather than to serge some new summer duds?!!

Share/Bookmark

The post Simple Layered Summer Skirt // National Serger Month appeared first on One Little Minute.

Over the weekend I taught my very first live and local sewing class. The students were fun and talented, the classroom at G-Street Fabrics in Falls Church, VA was fantastic, and the whole day exceded my expectations. I can’t wait for another!

My idea to teach a local class started brewing in the weeks following Alt Summit when, through some introspection, I realized that I really really love to teach and didn’t have many opportunities. All of my nursing experience was in Diabetes Education, which was teaching group and individual classes. But since Eliot was born and stopped working as a nurse, I really had missed that teaching environment. I called G-Street and proposed the idea of teaching a class how to make my Big Bow Dress and they agreed to let me rent a classroom for the event. Then I set to work planning the details.

I wanted the class to feel more like an event than a basic class, so I gathered some goods from a couple willing local shops to stuff into a swag bag for each student. Everybody loves swag, right?

I contacted Michele Hatty Fritz of Meant To Be Calligraphy to create the hand-lettered phrase for the front of the totes. She is an incredibly talented calligrapher offering all sorts of hand-lettering services and even teaches local calligraphy classes here in Northern Virginia (you may see me in one soon…) She did a simply breathtaking job on the lettering, and after I screen printed it onto the totes, each one looked like Michele had taken her pen directly to it.

I asked Michele to letter the phrase “Create with Confidence,” which is my new motto. The more years I spend living, crafting, sewing, cooking, creating…, the more I realize how much attitude affects the outcome and my enjoyment of the experience. When I approach a project with a purposeful excitement, it usually turns out great–if different than expected. I wanted to share with my students that they have the ability to create wonderful things, they just have to go for it!

My good friend Melanie Ouellette Karlins  from Grey Moggie Press in DC donated sets of her hilarious and current letterpress gift tags. Phrases like “a token of how much I want you to like me” and “you tweeted a link to this so I figured it would be a good gift” set her gift tags apart from the usual “to: from:” variety. Melanie has such a fun take on life, and all of her cards reflect that. (This one and this one are my current favorites.) Melanie also teaches letterpress workshops at Pyramid Atlantic, where I letterpress print.

These darling wooden spools and kraft paper heart stickers came from Natalie Stern of the party boutique Katarina’s Paperie. I love Natalie’s wide selection of affordable party and craft supplies, and she even offers a bunch of free printables. When I went to meet Natalie, I realized she lives just blocks from me! It was so fun to meet and connect with her. Along with offering goodies for the class, Natalie is also offering all of my readers 15% off of any purchase at Katarina’s Paperie with the code: JOY13. So, get on that!

Since we’re all dreaming of spring here in DC (it snowed on Monday…) I thought some fabric from local artist and fabric designer Laura Gunn‘s line COSMOS would be a great fit. Laura actually paints all of her designs, so the florals have an organic, vibrant, natural feel that doesn’t come through in digital design. I also love the colors her collections include. I can’t wait to get my hands on some of her newest line, EDGES. I’m lucky to be friends with Laura, and I am consistently amazed by her talent.

Everyone was pretty excited about their gifts, and all ready to get shopping and sewing. I discussed a little about fabric types and choices for this project, then we went shopping on the G-Street floor. When everyone had found something they loved, we gathered back in the classroom to assemble the patterns, and cut. I loved seeing what fabric everyone had in mind for their dresses. I had never thought to use a big floral, thinking it might overtake the design, but Susan‘s bright print might have been my favorite choice!

After cutting, we then had sewing, ironing, sewing, ironing, sewing and some more ironing. This dress (and indeed all woven clothing) is pretty iron-intensive. Luckily, the classroom was well-equipped, and everyone had everything they needed. Katie came early and helped me set up, and we were both so impressed with the facility.

I had everyone bring their own machines, since I wanted them to be able to take home any machine-specific instructions or tips that they got, and I think that ended up being a good idea. There’s a bond between a girl and her sewing machine…amiright?

The night before the event, I realized I probably wouldn’t be sewing myself, so I whipped up three Big Bow Dresses, all to varying stages of completion, so I would have examples of the techniques and steps I was teaching. They ended up being great visual aids, and I’m going to hang on to them in case I teach this same class in the future!

I knew I wouldn’t have a second to take photos, so I asked fantastic local photographer Danelle Empey  of MP Photography to come spend an hour shooting. I love the overview of the class through her lens, as well as the little details she spotted (you know, those great captures that only professional photographers seem to get?!) It is thrilling to have such great record of this fun event. Danelle did our family photos two years ago, when I was bursting at the seams with Eliot, and she’ll be taking them again this year. I can’t wait!

After a couple hours of class, we were all ready to eat. If you know anything about me, you probably know that I really love food. I really love food. I wanted to provide a delicious lunch without too much mess or fuss. My usual course of questioning when brainstorming these sorts of things is “Well, what would I want to eat?” and that’s what I bought! To-die-for sandwiches on crusty bread from Le Pain Quitodien, mini bags of Terra Chips, plump, purple grapes, and a chocolate bunny. Because a meal isn’t a meal without chocolate.

Oh, and there were Sprinkles cupcakes for dessert, of course.

The students were all wonderful. Everyone had a great time chatting as we sewed. I loved getting some great questions about techniques, being able to share new ideas, and all learning from each other. I also loved the squeals of delight every time the dress looked more and more  ”…like a dress!!”

I was told that starting and finishing a dress would be a challenge with a full class, so I was interested to see how far we would get through the dress. I had eight students and four hours of sewing (the two before lunch were for shopping and cutting). With everyone’s attention, cooperation, and mutual support, every student finished her dress except for hemming (even sweet Natasha, who made it late, caught all the way up)! Everyone learned new skills, including manual and automatic button holes, creating pleats, grading and clipping curves, understitching, lining without hand stitching, and inserting invisible zippers. I was so proud!

The time flew, and as I stumbled back to my car after a full-day of teaching I was completely drained…and completely, blissfully happy. Meeting and connecting with people in real life was refreshing for my virtual-reality-soaked soul. Plans for another class are in the works.

Thank you to the Sew a Bow local support:

Meant to Be Calligraphy: facebook/twitter/blog/shop

Grey Moggie Press: facebook/twitter/blog/shop

Katarina’s Paperie: facebook/twitter/blog/shop

Laura Gunn Studio: facebook/twitter/blog/shop

All images by Danelle Empey of MP Photography: facebook/blog/shop

Share/Bookmark

The post Sew a Bow DC // Local Sewing Class appeared first on One Little Minute.

As part of my recent bedroom makeover, I thoroughly organized the small walk-in closet that Dave and I share. Once I had donated a couple bags of unwanted clothes and rearranged a bit, it looked pretty respectable. The one detail that it lacked to be truly beautiful was a new set of matching wooden hangers.

Before, mine were all the plastic and metal rotating hangers that you see at clothing stores. Dave’s were mostly dry-cleaning hangers, with a couple nice wooden ones for his work suits. All of the hangers were functional. I had several with those foam non-slip covers for my tank, wide-neck, or silk tops. Dave had a line-up of cardboard-wrapped wire hangers that were sturdy enough to hold his trousers and suits without bending. But, despite being useful, all the hangers were just ugly. No amount of clothing color-coordination would change that!

I decided to follow the advice Stephanie offered years ago and replace all of our hangers with the simple, inexpensive wooden variety. The simple change would make the closet look and feel new and fresh, but I didn’t want to loose the specific functionality of our non-slip and suit hangers. So, I came up with a couple really simple DIY projects to create non-slip and suit hangers with basic wooden hangers and just a couple other supplies.

To turn basic wooden hangers (or any other type, really) into non-slip hangers, all you need is some rubber cement! The adhesive dries just slightly tacky, like rubber, so the clothing will not slip off the edges of the hanger. And my favorite part is that it doesn’t change the look of the hanger at all! The non-slip hangers look as clean an gorgeous as those without the coating.

I brushed a thin layer of the rubber cement onto several hangers, covering up about 3-4″ from the shoulder edge, then hung them up to dry. After 24 hours they are ready to go to work keeping clothing in place! And, if you ever want to reverse the treatment, simply peel gently and the rubber cement will come right off.

It is so wonderful to have some of my favorite tops stay on the hangers as they should, even when they are wedged onto the small hanging bar in my closet. Especially for lightweight tanks (like this handmade one), and other wide-necked tops and dresses, these simple non-slip yet still stylish hangers are a great solution to keeping the closet a beautiful and functional space.

The other type of hanger that I created is called a suit hanger, but really it’s just modification to add a strip of elastic that allows folded clothing to stay put in the center of the hanging bar, rather than slip-sliding down to one of the corners. Dave needs these for all of his trousers and suit pants, and I use them for my more delicate skirts that shouldn’t be clamped with a skirt hanger (like this vintage velvet pencil, and my corduroy kelly skirt). It would also be perfect for sweaters and linens that you might dry clean.

For this project you’ll need a wooden hanger, two upholstery tacks, a hammer, and about 12″ of button hole elastic.

First, fold the end of the elastic under about 1/2″, then hold the hanger flat on a hard surface and use the upholstery tack to hammer it into one corner of the hanger. Turn the hanger over, and hammer the other upholstery tack about 3/4 of the way down into the opposite corner. Make sure to leave about 1/8″ of space so that you can loop a buttonhole onto the tack. Pull the elastic pretty tight to figure out which buttonhole you’ll be using. You’ll want to be able to put one finger under the elastic, to leave room for the clothes. Cut the elastic off, leaving one additional button hole, just in case.

The elastic should be looping from one corner, over the bar, and threading onto the tack on the back side of the hanger. This diagonal stretch will hold the folded clothing in place without sacrificing style.

Now, even with matching hangers, we are able to keep all of the functionality of a whole variety of hangers. It’s also really nice to have all of our investments (of money and time shopping, making, or washing) for our clothing pay off because we are able to take good care of them.

It’s also pretty cool to use really simple projects to improve our life by creating a more beautiful and functional space in our home. Our clean, updated bedroom needed a clean and updated closet. And I may have a couple extra hangers that are just waiting for the perfect new items to come along for Spring!

Share/Bookmark

The post DIY Non-Slip Hangers + DIY Suit Hangers appeared first on One Little Minute.

Throughout this year, I will be sharing the stories, experiences, and advice about “Becoming Thirty” from friends and readers. It has been such a milestone for me, and I know turning thirty feels different for everyone. I would love to hear about your experience! Email me your story at miranda@onelittleminuteblog.com.  

Hello! I’m delighted Miranda asked me to talk about turning and being thirty. It’s been a few months now, and I’ve yet to document any of it for myself, so this feels nice to put it into words, and of course, to get to know some of you better. Here we go!

       Is it weird to say I didn’t mind turning thirty one bit? I hope not. I was even a little excited! It’s not that I have sky high confidence. It’s not that I can’t see those eye wrinkles creeping in. It’s definitely not because I still have that hot bikini body from my teens. As odd as it sounds, I’ve felt as though I was thirty for the past couple years, even though I’ve only been thirty for a few months now. But maybe not in the way you might think.

       Listen folks, by 28 I had three children. A lot for someone in their “twenties” to have, right? But… enter your thirties and, BAM it’s a whole new club. A club where multiple kids running around is totally normal. Yes! Let’s get one thing straight first- this wasn’t entirely about me feeling normal. My confidence is okay. I just got tired of people reacting so dramatically to my having three kids by 28. I embraced Club 30 with open arms. There was also part of me that just felt thirty. The last few years of my life included moving back into the US from the Caribbean, giving birth to twins, one of which has special needs, moving again to another state, and starting a new job, all while my husband was in medical school. I’m okay admitting that it completely rocked my world, and every bone in my body, pore on my face, and now gray hair on my head felt it. Club 30. Yes!

       It’s not that I’ve thrown in the towel. In a lot of ways, quite the opposite. I just feel I fit this age better. Like the way you might fit into a 10 better than an 8 like you thought, and you’re like “wait, these actually make me look thinner!” I fit into Club 30 better. My age now matches the way I feel on the inside, how I hope I’m acting on the outside, my social circle, and my phase in life. I liked my twenties, but felt great about what was in store for my thirties!

       The twenties for me were all about starting. Starting my marriage, starting my family, starting our careers, and really starting our lives together as the Horsley Family. I’m so excited for my thirties to settle a little more, just be a little more, and embrace Club 30.

Share/Bookmark

The post Becoming Thirty // Chelsea appeared first on One Little Minute.

And now I’m posting from the business center of a Holiday Inn in Kansas City. Random, right? Well, a few weeks ago I got a call about an RN education job, and the details were to perfect to pass up! Did you even know I’m a nurse? I forget sometimes, too. Really, my very favorite thing about nursing is teaching, and I was lucky to work as a diabetes educator until the boys were born, when I decided to stay home with them. This new position is an education position as well, but I will be teaching MS patients how to use an injectable medication in their homes. The hours are all self-managed, and it will be only 2-4 per week. Totally dreamy. I’m excited to keep my toe in the medical field, while still leaving time to spend quality time with my family and create beautiful things.

When I was called about this job, I was asked to send over a resume. Of course, right? Well, the only resume I could find on my computer was the one I used to get my first nursing job in 2008! I had to hurry and update it with new information before emailing it off. Funny enough, if she had wanted to see a media kit, I’d have been able to send one over right away, since I made my first real media kits for Alt Summit. I’d love to share them with you today.

 I have Melissa to thank for everything I know about putting together a media kit, and I love the way these turned out!

A “media kit” is basically just a little snapshot of your blog. Mine included information about: who I am, what I write about, who my readers are, and what types of media partnerships I offer. I designed and letterpressed the kits, and also included a fun letterpress print with each one (because I thought companies deserved some fun swag, too!).  I had two, letterpressed half-sheets and needed a creative way to present them.

I came up with a way to turn a basic piece of cardstock into a pocket folder, and it fit the sheets perfectly. I also slid a business card in the front to hand them to sponsors.

To make the folders, I cut pieces of Laura Gunn’s Painters Canvas in Mustard (the same I used on my Archer) into 12″x12″ squares. I ironed 1/4″ around all four sides, then sewed the top and bottom edges to finish it. Then I folded it in half around the cardstock, and stitched down the center, then down each edge. This way I ended up with four fabric pockets. I was happy to learn I could use a bit of my letterpress plate to stamp the folders, for an added logo.

I love this song by James Taylor. It had been playing in my head for the month leading up to Alt (probably in preparation for my thirtieth, too) so I decided it fit me perfectly and was something I wanted to share.

My media kits were so well received, it made me happy! Even being a small blog, I recognizde my opportunities to partner with brands to create great content, and I am looking forward to a couple upcoming collaborations resulting from my efforts to connect.

One of my very favorite parts of blogging is forming relationships. With other bloggers, with great companies, and with readers. I love to create something real in all of this virtual reality.

Share/Bookmark

The post Letterpressed Media Kits with Fabric Folders appeared first on One Little Minute.

Then I emailed my trusty code friend, who helped correct the error…but it resulted in a total theme crash! Uh oh!

So, please pardon the totally disheveled site design (uh, non-design) while I try to get it put back together! Focus on the great photos and inspirational content, okay? okay.

xo Miranda

Share/Bookmark

The post Theme Crash! appeared first on One Little Minute.

I love love love honeycomb candy (also known as seafoam candy, sponge candy, or angel candy). A hunk of dark-chocolate-covered honeycomb candy is my go-to choice when I visit a new candy or chocolate store. There is just something amazing about the burnt-sugar, crispy, melt-in-your-mouth flavor and texture. It’s divine. Dave grew up loving it, too, as his mom made this amazing angel food cake with whipped cream frosting, then covered it with crushed honeycomb.I had never even thought about making it at home because it seemed so tricky, but last week I got the Easter edition of The Friend magazine, and saw this recipe. The feature mentioned that after Christ’s resurrection, the apostles gave him some fish and “of an honeycomb” which ties the treat into the holiday so beautifully.

Since it was nap time, I immediately whipped up a batch, then went on to eat about half of it before the boys were even awake! Needless to say it is delicious, and surprisingly simple to make. It takes four ingredients and about ten minutes. Then you might want to dip the candy in chocolate, which adds a perfect melty, deep flavor to the crunchy sweet of the honeycomb.

In a saucepan over medium high heat put 3/4 sugar (mine is sugar in the raw, but normal sugar works perfectly), 2 Tablespoons water, and 2 Tablespoons honey, and let simmer. Don’t stir the mixture, just let it heat and simmer for 4-5 minutes, until it looks like caramel and reaches about 300F. I don’t have a candy thermometer, but mine worked okay. When it’s hot and ready, sprinkle on the 1.5 teaspoons of baking soda and stir until it’s combined. The mixture will foam up quickly, so have a sheet of parchment paper ready to pour it out and let it dry.

I had a little trouble getting the baking soda to mix in all the way, so my candy ended up with some tiny bits of powder. Once dry it was easy enough to dust off with my fingers. (I put my candy in the freezer for quick drying.) Once dry, the candy will be super brittle and easy to break into pieces.

For some added decadence, melt 1 cup of chocolate chips in the microwave by heating for 20 seconds at a time and stirring in between until they are melted and smooth. Dip each piece of honeycomb int the chocolate, cover completely, then pull out and set onto a second sheet of parchment. Let dry, then enjoy! (Again, I put mine in the freezer for quick setting.)

I’ll definitely be making another batch of this chocolate dipped honeycomb for sharing with friends on Easter Sunday. And now that I can make it myself, I may be whipping up some honeycomb whenever I get the hankering.

Other fun Easter things?

These DIY Wool-Felted Chicks I made for designmom.com

The easiest No Sew Felt Bunny Ears

My Big Bow Dress Pattern, or for locals come Sew a Bow with me (now discounted to just $75, which just covers the costs!!)

Share/Bookmark

The post Easy Honeycomb Candy appeared first on One Little Minute.