Map.

I have gone on a DIY craze, dear friend.

I have a million projects for a house I don't have.

It is pathetic.

It has been hard to find projects I can do now, even though we aren't settled.

My latest project was a huge map to hang on the wall in Chloe's room.

First we built two frames... we wrapped the bigger one in this fabulous brown houndstooth fabric, and we wrapped the smaller in a cream muslin.

Then I drew a map of the world on the cream fabric and painted the different countries we have lived in. I think later I will stich something on the specific places we have been/lived. Another day. Not today. I had cooking class today.

The map all finished.

The US is red, Mexico is green, Ecuador is purple, India is gold, and Australia is blue.

Do you like it?

I am very pleased with how it turned out.

For the second week of my Sunflour Cooking Class we did a simpler muggu than last time (mostly because it looks like it is going to rain) with a sunflower in the middle.

Oh yes, I do love sunflowers.

Sunflour Cooking Class.

A few weeks ago I decided I wanted to do a cooking class for young girls.

I thought it would be good because it would give me something to do, help teach them about food, and it would be something new and fun for all of us.

I figured the ideal number would be four girls, but I could probably pull if off if only three signed up.

Ten girls ended up signing up so I had to break it into two weeks.

I just finished the first week and they all really want to do another class! I am thrilled. It was so much better than I hoped!

We learned to make muffins, buttermilk syrup, healthy snacks, frost cookies, spinach smoothies, grilled cheese, gorilla bread, oatmeal cookies, and a pasta bake.

They were all a big hit. Their favorite to make was the gorilla bread and their favorite to eat was the pasta bake (I think mostly because that was what we were making when I asked them).

As part of the course they each got an apron, measuring cups, measuring spoons, a sample of each recipe to take home, and a cookbook.

I'm not sure why I'm tell you all of this, dear friend, other than I'm just really happy it went so well and I thought maybe you'd be happy too.

The Sunflour Cooking Class

Aren't they just the cutest little girls? I had so much fun hanging out with all of them in the kitchen.

Confession.

This one time Brad and I accidentally took laxatives for a whole week while we were on vacation.

Great for weight loss.... but not super convenient when you are trying to travel but you need to be ridiculously close to a bathroom at. all. times.

Makes for a good story though I suppose. Hope it made you laugh.

Happy day after Valentines, dear friend. I hope you feel loved today too.

Peanut butter.

Chloe loves peanut butter. She will eat a spoonful and then ask for another. And then another. And then another.

I am not exaggerating.

Normally she is pretty good about eating it without making a mess, but when she is on her last spoon she likes to eat half and use the last half to make art.

It is like finger painting but with calories instead of paint.

On good days she gets it in her hair.

And just because it is awesome... a photo of the muggu I did today with my sister Claire and her awesome friend Grace.

It is a welcome home muggu for my parents who are coming home from Hawaii today.

Poonimi.

Tonight for full moon fun night we went to the Hindu temple here in Vegas because full moons are extremely auspicious.

It was very different from the temples in India, but I kind of expected that. It was gorgeous inside, but they didn't allow photos... come visit and we'll take you.

We had a great time sharing things that were a big part of our life in India with my sister Claire and cousin Wes.

The whole time we were there Chloe kept asking for her bindi (the red dot on the forehead). Poor baby is going to be so confused...she is a blonde Ecuadorian that insists on wearing a bindi.

Guess we better start saving for therapy.