Springtime Pancakes, Our Favorite Pancake Recipe

We eat pancakes once a week here in the Liv house.

This spring we mixed it up a little with some spring inspired food coloring.

The kids thought they tasted even better than normal! 

Its funny how much presentation makes a difference isn't it?! 

Anyways, here is the favorite pancake recipe over here, it always turns out good! :)

Super Yummy No Fail Pancakes

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup White Flour

1 Tbsp White Sugar

1 tsp Baking Powder

1/4 tsp Baking Soda

1/4 tsp Salt

1 Egg

1 cup Milk

2 Tbsp Vegtable Oil

1 tsp White Vinegar

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Food Coloring (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Mix dry ingredients with a wire whisk in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix wet ingredients with a whisk. Stir food coloring into wet ingredients. Pour wet ingredients into dry. Stir until combined. Batter will be lumpy, do not over-mix! Pour spoonfuls onto a 350 degree griddle. When you can see bubbles throughout the pancake, it is time to flip them! :) 

My little ones like them with peanut butter and maple syrup. I like them with fresh fruit, cinnamon, and whipped cream. 

Enjoy!

Have my lovely readers wondered why I haven't posted much on this here blog lately? 

Well here are my excuses...

My laptop is real super moody, and doesn't always work lately.

The weather has been lovely, and I mostly want to just sit outside in the grass.

I have a handful of little ones, one who is a wild toddler...

This kind of stuff happens on a regular basis over here:

What you can't see is that the entire jug of cooking oil is poured over the oats in that canister. 

I guess toddlers can make pancakes too!

So. I'll post when I can, but not when I can't. Aren't you glad I cleared that up!? ;)

Have a lovely weekend! I hope your toddlers take long naps! :)

Sylvie

Girls Linen Dress

There is nothing like a sweet little linen dress. 

I love that linen goes with anything, its classic, and such a nice fabric. 

And its easy to work with! 

To make this dress, I used the free color block dress pattern and tutorial from Shwin and Shwin. 

I made my own sleeve pattern using a dress from lil Ms. Liv's closet. 

I also (obviously) used one piece of fabric for the skirt, rather than making a color block one.

Here is her version of the dress:

img source

This is a super easy tutorial to follow, and you can't beat a free pattern! :) 

I love that this dress is a one piece outfit!

Have a good week, my lovely readers! :)

Sylv

Woman's Cardigan to Girl's Cardigan Dress Tutorial

This was one of the most fun projects I have ever done!

Another dirt cheap thrift store find, turned into one of my favorite pieces for one of the little Livs! :) 

Do you have am old cardigan in your closet, collecting dust?

Haul it out and get out your scissors!

(Sorry some of the pics are crusty, I made it on the coffee table in the middle of the night while visiting w Mr. Liv!)

First, lay out your cardigan. Using a fabric marker, trace a bodice pattern (I used the bodice from Color Block Dress from Shwin&Shwin) right near the top of the buttons in the front. Continue the side seam line down to the bottom of the shirt (you could also just use a dress or shirt you already have to trace).

Cut the shirt along your line, but give yourself a seam allowance as well.

If you want the back of the cardigan to be high, cut straight across the top from the shoulder, rather than following the neck line.

Fold the cut side inward, and trace it on the opposite side.

It should look like this now:

Using a sleeve of a shirt that fits your girl well, trace a sleeve onto the end of the cardigan sleeve. 

You want the ends to line up so you can use the existing hem.

Don't forget your seam allowance! Cut the sleeve, and repeat on the other sleeve.

Put your bodice pieces right sides together, pin along the shoulders, and sew/ serge the shoulders together.

Open up the bodice pieces, and pin the shoulder of the sleeve to the shoulder of the bodice, right sides together. Sew along the pins. Repeat with other sleeve.

Fold it together inside out, and pin along the length to the sleeve and the side of the bodice. Sew/ serge it together.

Using the leftover scraps of cardigan, pick out the stitches on the bias tape to remove a piece of bias tape for the back of the neck.

Sew the bias tape to the back of the neck on the new shirt.

If you are unsure of how to attach a knit binding, there is a nice tutorial here at ikat bag!

That's all! :) This project took me about 1.5 hours- totally doable after the little's bedtime!

Have fun! 

Thanks for reading!

Sylvie

One Year Later, Looking Back...

One year ago today, my dear husband had a near death experience in an accident at work.

Looking back, I wouldn't change the past.  We both grew so much from that experience. It was a reminder that each moment that I have him with me is a gift. 

It was also a reminder that our lives are not in our own hands, 

but they are in God's. Before that day, I was feeling pretty in control. I felt like I could handle my life so well. I could decide how things would go. I was clearly shown otherwise.

One thing that hasn't changed though, is that Mr. Liv is still prone to accidents. In the last year, he has bruised, bumped, and gouged himself many times, sometimes deep enough to need stitches... 

Do you think it has anything to do with him always testing the limits!? ;)

Another thing that hasn't changed is the feeling I had immediately after the accident. 

Here is what I wrote: 

"I love this man. I need this man. I feel like he is part of me. Our children love him and need him. I feel like I cannot thank God enough for preserving his life a while longer."  

You can read the full accident story here.

Today I'll hug my loved ones a little closer, 
and feel thankful for our health.
-Sylvie

Yellow Wire Pendant Lamp

Here is a lil something we have been up to over here!

Mr. Liv made this custom lamp for a customer for her little girls room.

Isn't it lovely! :) I think I'd like one in yellow myself!

Enjoy your week! :)

Sylvie

Come Spring

Suddenly the thought of bugs on the porch is appealing.

Poppy Watercolor

Little sprouts in the garden bring dreams of fluttering petals to come.

Trouser PDF

The dark heavy clothes are finding a new place behind the fresh bright new favorites.

Strawberry Lemonade

And the soup recipes are pushes aside to make room for cold drinks and ice cream.

Sigh. Spring is so happy.

I hope your day is full of sunshine! :)

Sylvie

Woman's Shirt To Girls Dress Upcycle

It is therapy to me to make clothes that I love for my littles that cost nothing.

My sister gave me this shirt, and in 15 minutes, I had it cut up and turned into a lil dress!! 

Yep, I'm serious, 15 min. Mr. Lovely Liv bought me a serger for Christmas, 

so it made the process WAY faster and easier!!

I made it the using this simple tutorial, without adding the ruffle to the bottom.

I simple used the existing bottom shirt hem for the bottom dress hem. 

:) I literally would rather have a fun, cute, and FREE project like this turn out than go get a Starbuck's! It makes me happy to make something from "nothing!" :)

Thanks sis, for the shirt!!

Have a good week!

Sylvie

DIY Pinata For Under $2!!

I just can't spend $15-$20 dollars on something that only costs $1-$2 to make! Especially when it is something that is going to get smashed and thrown away anyway! 

It took me about 2 hours to make, and it was fun! :)

The kids were pleased with it, and I was pleased with the savings. Win, win! 

Wanna make one? Here is what you'll need:

A Large Cereal Box

A Package of Tissue Paper ($1 at Dollar Tree!!)

Masking Tape

Scissors

Glue Stick

Piece of String

Also Helpful: Xacto Knife, Cutting Mat

Directions:

Flatten out your cereal box, and cut the front and back of the box off. Lay the two pieces together on your cutting mat, and cut out the number you'd like. (or use scissors)

Using the remaining cardboard, cut 4" wide strips. Tape the strips together into one long strip, and score both sides of the strip with your Xacto Knife or one side of scissors. You want to score it the short way, not up and down the length of cardboard.

Using your masking tape, tape the strip around the edges of the front piece, and then the back piece. 

Be sure to cut a little flap in the top of the pinata, as well as a little hole to put your string through! (Refer to 2nd image above)

Use your glue stick to cover your pinata in a layer of tissue paper.

Cut long strips of tissue paper a couple inches tall, and then make slits in the opposite direction using scissors. 

Glue the tissue paper fringes around your pinata, starting at the bottom. 

You're done! 

Fill with candy/treats/prizes, and let the kids wreck your work! ;)

Have fun!

Sylvie

Fun New Shop on Etsy For Kids: Wee Whims

Have you guys seen the fun new shop WeeWhims on Etsy?!

Wee Whims sells super cute handmade kids clothes for really good prices! 

Aren't these Owl Carseat Toys darling!

You can get a cute lil state hoody custom made in sizes 12 mo - 4T, with any state you want! 

Check out what else is new in Wee Whims shop here!

Have a good week!

Sylvie

Felix The Fox Free Printable Doll Toy

There are a few foxes running around my house lately! 

Felix the fox is a free downloadable paper doll with moving limbs!

You can find the pdf HERE!

The lil Livs are pleased with them, and I am pleased to have them

 occupied with a new toy that was nearly free! :)

In the above image, Felix is hanging out in the living room,

in my vintage doily. You can learn more about it here.

Have a good weekend!

Sylvie

The Best Scone Recipe Ever: White Chocolate Raspberry Scone Recipe

Seriously. I don't even like scones. But these. are. so. good. 

I know they aren't the most glamorous scones you ever did see,

but you'll have to trust me- they are the BEST.

Like dangerously good.

You need to try them.

And if you are on a diet, still, try them...

At least once.

White Chocolate Raspberry Scones

Ingredients:

Scones:

2 cups White Flour

1/8 cup White Sugar

2 tsp. Baking Powder

1/2 tsp. Baking Soda

1/2 tsp. Salt

1 Stick Unsalted Butter; Cold, Cut Into Pieces

6 oz. White Chocolate Chips

1 1/2 cups Frozen Raspberries

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

2/3 cup Buttermilk

1 egg

Glaze: 

1 Tbsp.  Melted Butter

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1 cup Powdered Sugar

1/4 cup Water

Directions:

Scones:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease 2 jelly roll pans or line with parchment paper. In a large bowl sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Cut the butter into the flour mixture using a pastry blender (should be crumbly with course crumbs). Stir in white chocolate chips and frozen raspberries.

In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk, vanilla extract, and egg. Pour wet mixture into flour mixture, and stir until combined; dough should be lumpy, do not over-mix. 

Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead 4-5 times. Form dough into 9" circle. Cut into 8 triangles. Using a pie server, move triangles onto greased jelly roll pans. Be sure to space them well apart- they grow while baking! Bake 14-16 min, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Drizzle glaze over top of scones as soon as removed from oven.

Glaze:

Whisk together water, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Whisk in the powdered sugar. 

Add more powdered sugar if you'd like a thicker glaze! 

Enjoy!!!

These scones are heavenly when they are hot out of the oven, but just as delicious when warmed in the microwave later!  My dear aunt concocted this recipe herself. Thank you for sharing the recipe, Aunt Geddy! 

Tip: If you do not have buttermilk, here is an easy substitute that works just fine (in most baked goods actually!): Put 1 tsp white vinegar in your measuring cup, and then add regular milk (I use 2%) until it is filled to 2/3 cup. That's it! Pretty simple! :)

Baby Bouncy Seat Redo

This bouncy seat has been around since my first baby. It was time for a change! I just used a half a yard of stretchy knit, and an old black tee shirt to make a new cover for it! 

It was super easy, I just traced the existing cover, serged the seams, and stretched it over the frame. I did not use any padding. Since the cover is stretchy, Littlest Liv is comfy in it- suspended like a knit infant carrier!

I like the seat much better now, and don't mind it being in my living space! 

Have a good weekend! :)

Sylvie

Disclaimer: I did not do a tutorial on this, as I am not a professional, 

and I would not want anyone's baby to be hurt because of my directions! 

I understand that recovering a baby seat can be risky, and I assure you, my child is not in this seat unsupervised. 

With that being said, lets agree to not talk about infant safety any further. Thank you!