Skirt makeover

What's wrong with this skirt? Nothing! It's just too plain :P

 Now instantly dressed up :-)

Layered Skirt - A Tutorial

I've never sewn Georgette before and I'm nervous. It turns out sewing thin fabric wasn't that scary :-) This skirt I made for my daughter. It's a very simple skirt employed some clever scheme to hide all raw edge so don't worry if you don't have a serger.
First start out with 3 rectangles (I need the third one since Georgette is so seer, but you can just use cotton and only need 2 pieces: 1 big and 1 small).
Materials:

• Georgette fabric or any lightweight fabric
• Matching cotton or any lightweight fabric
• elastic band
• Matching thread

Sizing:

• each rectangle has the length measured by the waistline measurement x 1.5 or 2. For 40" to 45" fabric I just use the whole width, only cut the size of the height so I don't have to worry about concealing the raw edge.
• for the large piece the height would be from waistline to knee + 1.5 inches, cut 2: 1 from the Georgette fabric, 1 from the lining fabric.
• The small piece should have the height 3 inches shorter than the other 2.

• Sew 1 seam on the short ends of all pieces to form a tube. Iron seams open. Zigzag the raw edges if needed.

• Make the hem now on all pieces: fold the bottom end 1/4in, iron; fold another 1/4 in., iron then sew a seam 1/8in away from the edge.

Now's the tricky part:

• Place the shorter Georgette tube on top/outside of the longer Georgette tube, right side up/out.
• Place the liner on top/outside of the tube formed by previous step, right side up, or out.
• Pin all 3 layers in place.

• Sew all 3 layers together using a 0.5 in. seam.

• Now open the liner layer away from the 2 Georgette pieces, iron.

• Measure your elastic band's width, then add 0.5 in. as the distance from the folded edge down, mark a line using a disappearing pen. (sorry my line already disappearing :P)
• Pin in place and sew all layers together using that line as the guide to form the casing for the elastic band, leaving an opening about 1.5 in. for inserting the elastic band. Sew another line 1/8in. away from the top edge. See? all your raw edges are concealed now.

• Flip the outer layers up off the lining for inserting the elastic band. Cut a piece of elastic band the size of your child's waist + 1in., pin 1 end to the outside of the hole using a safety pin. Use another safety pin to insert the elastic band into the casing. Take care not to twist it inside the casing.

• Overlap the 2 ends of the elastic band, zigzag a few lines to close.

• Almost done :-) now close the gap on the casing
  
  
   
• Voilà! a simple skirt with layers!

• Now have fun!
  
  
  
  Happy the 4th of July!

Dresses Makeover

I bought these maxis last year for $8 each. They were too long with the ruffle on. Then I remember my favorite dresses that are too short. I used to have to wear leggings with them to maintain my dignity :P so I cut the ruffle off the maxis to the length of the short dresses' hem, attached them to the short dress. (They're already ruffled, just cut the exact length then close the tube up with 1 seam line). Voilà! 2 new dresses. No, 4 new dresses! Problems solved: long dresses shorter, short dresses are about 2 inches longer.

Chicken Phở Recipe

soup base, any chicken bouillon will do

An easy version of Pho. Using the mixed spice for Pho package (picture).

Ingredients: All ingredients can be found at any Asian grocery store.

• 1 chicken (any kind but I love baking hen from Walmart)
• 1 package of mixed spice for Pho (star arnise and cinnamon are main ingredients)
• 1 package of Pho noodle
• 1 package of bean sprout
• 1 bunch of green onion
• 2 small onions
• 1 piece of ginger (about the size of a thumb)
• Pho soup base or chicken bouillon 
• hoisin sauce & sriracha hot pepper sauce 
• lemon/lime cut into wedges
• Thai basil

1. Roast a  small piece of ginger (thumb size) and a small onion, smashed with the side of a knife until burnt on surface a little. 
2. Put the ginger, onion & mixed spice in a spice ball, drop in a pot with the chicken cover with water, add a pinch of salt, cook until chicken tender
3. Take the spice out, discard. Take the chicken out, let cool then shred into bite size chunks
4. Add more water if needed, salt & chicken bullion to taste to the stock
5. Boil some water, put pho noodle in for about 5-10 seconds, take out, drain
6. Cut some green onion, slice some onion
7. Place some bean sprout in the bottom of a bowl, some noodle, then shredded chicken, sliced onion & green onion on top, ladle with Pho stock. Squeeze some lemon in. Put some Thai basil on top.  Add some hoisin sauce & sriracha hot sauce to taste, mixed. 
8. Mix hoisin sauce and sriracha hot sauce as dipping sauce for chicken.  Enjoy!

Child talk

Conversation in the back of the car this morning at school bus stop:
Meggie (4): "Look out the window, look over there. You'll see something. Don't look at me. I don't want you looking at me!"
Sydney (7): "It's ok to look. I'm not touching you or pushing you. When you grow up, some boy might want to look at you because he likes you. Get used to it. Besides, you might get so pretty all the boys want to look at you."
Meggie: "Oookayyyy."
Meggie: "I'm gonna look like mommy."
Sydney: "Just don't look like her side. She's fat." (sly smile) Then he asked: "How much money will I get when I go to college, mommy?" (He saw his college fund statement once.)