LACE BOWS

I just finished a new pair of shoes - tan + lace.

2ND DOLL PATTERN IS NOW COMPLETE!

Making these patterns is pretty time consuming and now that I've finished the 2nd one I think I'll take a break until the next set!

Introducing: 3 Little Pigs + the Big Bad Wolf!

Patterns is available in my shop here.

NEW SHOES

I have some new shoes to share!

 spring polka dots

 Classic gingham

 A new felt sandal

and some little crochet slippers.

HEALTHY BANANA BREAD

I made some banana bread yesterday that I really liked and thought I'd share the concocted recipe!

2 cups of whole wheat flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup honey/agave
1/4 cup applesauce
1.5 cups mashed ripe banana (3 medium)
1/2 cup egg whites (2 large)
1/3 cup greek yogurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
.5 cup chocolate chips (I used Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips)

I used whole wheat flour instead of white, honey instead of sugar (I was out of Agave), applesauce instead of oil or butter and greek yogurt instead of sour cream. The overall result was a dense but moist bread that was really good and I didn't notice the flour change as much as thought I might. I think with the bananas, applesauce and yogurt it really helped add the moisture that whole wheat flour needs.

I hope you try it and tell me what you think!

PS. I drizzled a little caramel sauce over the top as we had some in the fridge we needed to use up!

BALLET + TAP

Aubrey started her ballet/tap class on Saturday. She was a little shy at first and kept looking back at me so I left and she did much better. She's a perfectionist and I don't think she liked me watching when she couldn't get it right - oh dear. 

She started with tap and then did ballet. The class is just a couple blocks down the road from us and is 45 mins long every Saturday for the next few months.

 I think I have a few photos of me close to her age doing the shy shoulder shrug!

GARDENS + MUSEUM

I had to do a little research for a photo shoot coming up this weekend so Aubrey and I visited the Japanese Gardens and San Jose History Museum this past week.

The History museum is free during the week and $8 on the weekend. All the buildings are closed during the week though except for this little place that had a few facts including how much water is used to produce certain foods. You put the food on the scale and it lights up the board according to how much water it uses. Aubrey seemed to like it. There was also a little candy shop open where you can buy old fashioned sodas.

I liked this old gas station

Aubrey liked this little trolly and played on it for what seamed like ever!

Old tractor

 

Then next door was the Japanese Gardens which was free.

They had little vending machines with fish/duck food in them. I never have change or cash on me so naturally Aubrey found spilt food below the machines, scooped them up and fed them anyways.

 

ANOTHER DAY IN SF

Yesterday for Jared's day off he wanted to go to San Francisco for the day.

We started out by going to Chinatown.

 Aubrey made friends with the hundreds of statues

This is how Aubrey dealt with the smells in this dried food store - some very interesting items here!

 Being squished

Then we found this park to play in

Then we headed to Golden Gate Park

 I still can't get over all the different types of trees here!

There was a really fun playground in the park, but this long slide was Aubrey's favorite.

 We even saw buffalo!

Then we went to Little Russia and got some piroshky and other food and drove a little further to China Beach to eat.

 There was only us and a couple who were getting engagment photos taken - it was soooo windy.

Then it was time to drive home.