My first Softie and bloglovin

My first softie happens to be a little bunny and he is an Easter gift for a very little friend of mine, who is celebrating his first Easter this year.  

Get the free Pattern here:  This is sunny the free bunny

I am starting to thinkI am becoming a softy for softies. (cheesy, thats me)
They are a super fun, simple and great scrap busting projects.

Here are a few more softies I am looking at on my pinterest board under sewing.

I am starting to collect  free patterns for these sweet cuties. :) Maybe I will start pumping these guys out by the dozens, by the double dozens...or maybe not.  I do know my next one will be much better.
Oh the joys of trail and error.


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Now back to the Bunny.... using what I have to make a softie this week! Enjoy. In my west corner, Becky

Peace symbol cake & Perfect every time Carrot cake recipe

Well as most of you who follow my blog know I post pics of our birthday cakes. We have a tradition of making our cakes some fun shape or size, done up each birthday just tacky enough and unprofessional enough that they are certain to be called a labor of love. :)

So without further ado I will now post my oldest daughters Peace Symbol birthday cake which was 

4 months ago. Yep I am on top of it all over here. 

My 9 year old is very into peace symbols. :) She is such a sweetie that girl.

This time with my fabo cake pics I have a recipe for you too. ;)  If any of you like Carrot Cake this one comes out perfect EVERY time and is sooooo simple. You can serve it as a Birthday Cake with frosting or with no frosting with tea/coffee. I am always complimented on this cake!

This cake was to celebrate my husbands birthday, 1 month ago. (a little more on-top of this one. ;)) 

Man I love that guy (my husband that is)!!!

Perfect Every Time Carrot Cake

*1/2 cup oil

*4 eggs

*2 cups sugar

*2 cups all-purpose flour

*2 cups grated carrots

*2 tsp. cinnamon

*2 tsp. baking soda

*2 tsp. baking powder

*1 tsp. salt 

Cream cheese Frosting

*1/2 stick melted butter

*1 8 oz. package cream cheese

*3 cups or so of confectionery sugar 

Pre-heat over to 300 degrees F, Prepare 10' x 10" baking pan or two round or square pans

- Grate carrots, Mix all of the wet stuff, then mix in the dry stuff. Pour the batter into your prepared buttered baking pan(s) and bake for 45 min to 1 hour. (when toothpick comes out clean)

If you would like to see more fabo cako pics to inspire you here is the most recent besides these. 

The bike cake

In my west corner feeling random and goofy,

Good night.

Becky

Surprised them...with coloured pancakes.

If you want to surprise your little ones and hear oohhs and aahhs, 

add food coloring to your pancake mix.

Family breakfast this Saturday was rather colourful. :) Enjoy the pics and inspiration. 

My favourite part was when my little guy came in the kitchen and saw that the pancakes were different colours, he went running to find his sisters yelling excitingly "the pancakes are coloured, 

come on come look what mom did. " :) 

YES, Super mom for the moment. 

Oh and P.S. The coloured pancakes defiantly taste better don't ya know. :)

Have a wonderful weekend and mix it up with something simple.

In my west corner using what I have...this time it was food colouring and pancakes.
Becky

Keeping my body moving

This stationary bike has been a life saver for me this winter. 

In the winter here there is coal heat, so going outside in the morning (when I usually walk) feels like inhaling packets of cigarettes. So this bike has been a wonderful addition to my life. :)

At 8:30 my two youngest are out the door to school, after my last farewell from the window waving them off I head to this bike. First it was 10 minutes now it is 20, soon it will be 30.  

Then I jump off and scurry to be ready at 9:15 when Autty and I start homeschool.

Taking time to stay healthy and keep my body moving as a mom is something I feel passionate about. Exercise is much more than a fit body to me, it releases stress, stabilises my hormones, emotions and keeps my mind clear. As a mom exercise can be one of the first things to go because so many other important things push out time for caring for me. There have been seasons (usually during the winter) where I have quit exercising and then start up again in the spring. The thing is I don't grudge a small beginnings anymore. I have learned over time that getting out there, even if I only have 10 or 15 minutes, is worth it and helps me build a lifestyle of caring for myself. 

Today I didn't want to visit my bike but I did and I do because I need it. 

As I take care of myself, I am taking care of my family. This is something I feel like I need to remind myself of often.

How about you how do you take care of yourself with all the busyness and demands in your life?  How do you get time in for exercise?  If don't have a routine do you have a plan, if so what is it?

Would love to hear from you all...


In my west corner ~using my little bike to keep my heart rate up,
Becky 

Investing in the Neighbourhood school - # 5

I visited my 1st grade daughters class the other day to do a craft. Yes I was invited to come into Lydia's class this year and do crafts like I had done with my 1st daughter for her 1st and 2nd grade years. 

I was so grateful that I was able to go. 1st grade in Turkey can be very difficult.  They go from Kindergarten where there are toys, games and singing to having 2 or 3 hours of homework a night depending on the teacher. In 1st grade here the main topic of study for the first semester is learning to read and write Turkish. Every child will learn to read by the time they leave 1st grade.

The class has recently been looking at clocks and working with telling time so we made Tp tube watches.  We used pipe cleaners and a hole punch to secure them on their wrists. :)

This picture is of my little girl laughing at her mom! (I think she is a little embarrassed;))

Here we are singing the wheels on the bus (well I am singing)...and we are all doing the actions. :) They loved this and we did it twice!

I have committed to going once a month to Lydia's class and doing a craft with them the last hour of their school day.  Of course I do this to serve our school and because these little kids get very little of crafts and projects in 1st grade but I mainly do it to help my little girl feel secure and confident in her environment.

I think that it really has helped both my girls to see me step out and do things that is outside of my realm and watch me fumble and bumble in my Turkish while I explain and share in their classes.  I want to be an example of stepping out and serving others for my kiddos. My oldest that I am homeschooling came with me and helped me with the project. Her help was GREAT and needed.

Here is my helper Dilek. Her daughter was in Autty's class and now her son is in Lyida's class. So she has helped me every time! Soooo grateful for her. :)

Off I go to put my kiddos to bed. Enjoy your morning, afternoon or evening...whatever it may be for you right now. :)

In my west corner investing with what I have,
Becky