The Paris Wife

I've seen The Paris Wife by Paula McClain pop up on a number of places on my book radar lately. When I saw it on the "New Acquisitions" shelf at the library, I checked it out. The shelf isn't really called that. In fact, it's not labeled at all." I classed it up by giving it that name. Sweet, huh?

The Paris Wife chronicles Ernest Hemingway's first marriage to Hadley during the 1920's. Hadley and Ernest moved to Paris so that he could immerse himself in writing and be surrounded by other now-well-known writers from that era such as Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, F. Scott Fitzgerald etc. Hadley experienced first-hand the erratic Hemingway and his fly by the seat of your pants attitude regarding life, career, and women. At this point, he was not a known author although during the course of the story he did become more and more published. Unfortunately, the marriage suffered at the expense of Hemingway's search for fame.

This wasn't my favorite. I didn't relate to any of the characters. While I did feel some sympathy for Hadley, she stuck around way too long in the shambles of this marriage. Maybe I didn't really like it because I'm not very familiar with Hemingway's works. It just didn't resonate with me.

Rating: * * 1/2

Weighty Sadie

We have failed our dog child. I don't know how this happened. Well, I know how it happened but I feel badly this it's come to this. Let's back up. Last Saturday, we took Sadie to the vet for her annual heartworm check. They were just going to take her back to do the blood draw when I asked to see how much she weighs. Sadie hopped up on the scale and danced around as the numbers went up and up. I gasped audibly when they landed on 25.4. Twenty-five point four pounds!? This cute little baby was only supposed to be 15 lbs (though the breeder most certainly fudged that number). She had been holding strong around 22 for a couple years. When did this happen?

Not only that but we were refilling the prescription with the vet assistant said, "She's over 25 lbs." I was quick to reply, "We are going to work on that." She looked at me skeptically and said, "Really? Because over 25 is supposed to get a larger dose." And I said, "Yes, absolutely." I'm sure she didn't believe me because she asked twice, but gave us the lower dose all the same. Turn away with your judge-y eyes, lady.

Admittedly, we do not walk her regularly. Shameful, yes. This has got to change. We don't feed her people food except for what I call 'cereal time.' Every morning when I pull out the cereal box, Sadie comes running. She screeches to a halt by my feet and stares at the ground waiting for the rogue flakes to spill while pouting. Full disclosure.......if I am not clumsy and manage not to spill any cereal, I'll give her a flake anyway. But really! One flake a day does not equal this weight gain. Her eyes look so pitiful when I don't drop any that she shames me into giving her some cereal too. So, I'm blaming it on her probably only weekly walks and additionally, the spoonfuls of peanut butter that my mother-in-law gives her because she feels badly for Sadie. Don't feel badly for Sadie. She's a little porker!

So both dog and dog mother are now on a renewed health and fitness kick. Sadie, because those extra pounds are not good for her small frame, and me, because Mexico is only 3 weeks away!

Recipe Re-blog #38

I love hosting gatherings that allow me to try lots of new recipes. Last week, we had the return of Wine Night with friends of ours. The theme was Italian and all wines selected, even the budget bottle, were tasty. So was the food, if I do say so myself.

Italian Chicken over Pasta in a Lemon Thyme Cream Sauce: I was hoping for a lighter creamy pasta dish and this did not disappoint. I cut the heavy cream in half subbing in fat free half and half for the other portion and I don't think the end result suffered one bit. The chicken cooked up easily as well. However, you do not need 1 1/2 cups of flour for the dredge. 1 cup will do just fine. I made the chicken ahead of time and brought it up to temp in the oven. The recipe also calls for this but I think you could finish it in the pan and safely skip the oven time.


Chocolate Hazelnut Biscotti: This is a Giada de Laurentiis recipe. It features Nutella. Man, is that stuff good. Even the cashier at Walmart told me how much she loves Nutella. These were easy to make but to me, weren't traditional biscotti. They were more cookie-like in nature. I skipped the chopped hazelnuts because I couldn't find them. I don't think they were lacking because of this. I cut the recipe in half and it still made plenty.

Italian Cookies: Is that the most generic name for a recipe or what? I made a cookie tray to accompany the gelato I served for dessert. It featured these and the above recipe. These cookies don't have a whole lot of flavor. I added a glaze and colored sprinkles to jazz them up. However, because the gelato and other cookies were so sweet, it ended up being okay that these were on the less sweet side. I cut this one in half too.

All three get sleeves in my recipe binder this week!

Make It: 4 Seam Maxi Dress

Can we talk about how obsessed with maxi dresses I've become? I could not love them more for their comfort, ease of wear, and simple ability to be dressed up or down with a single accessory. Super versatile, super great. Once again, I've had this fabric for years. I know I got a good price on it at the time but I sure couldn't tell you now what that price was. It's a stretch jersey probably of a polyester nature, definitely not cotton. You could probably make this dress in non-stretch materials but you might need more yardage.

Want to make this dress?

Here we go!

1. 
   
   Lay your fabric out flat on the ground.




2. 
   
   The width should be 1 1/2 times the widest part of your body, usually your hips. For me, I needed it to be 60 inches wide. (40" x 1.5 = 60") However, I was a few inches short and it didn't matter in the end. It's still loose and flowy. I think I ended up with a 54" wide piece after I trimmed off the selvage.

3. In order to determine the length, you'll need to measure from just above your bust down all the way to the floor. I wanted mine to skim the top of my feet. You also need to add 9 inches to the length for the foldover (You'll see in a minute, your added amount may be more than 9). I'm tall so I think my length was considerable. Something like 68" probably with the additional amount. This step is also a lot easier if you have a buddy to tell you what the number at the bottom of your tape measure reads. If you don't have a buddy, step on the tape and use the number at your foot.

4. Once you've determined the necessary length, lay the fabric wrongside up on the ground. Fold down one end of the width. This will be the top of the dress. It's going to form the tubes for your elastic and will give you an extra layer of coverage around the bust, an added bonus if your fabric is a little thinner than modesty allows. I folded mine up 9 inches, allowing for 1 inch to be turned under at the bottom (so the finished measurement here was 8".) You'll want to measure from just above your bust, where the top of the dress and elastic will go, to just below the bust, where the other elastic tube will sit. I do not have a large chest. If you do, the amount you fold to create this part will be a lot longer than 9 inches.

5. After you've folded this part, turn the bottom under 1 inch and pin. Then measure an inch from the new turned under bottom, and pin again as a guideline. Also, measure an inch down from the top of the dress (sorry no pic of this). These are going to be your elastic channels, one to hold the dress up from the top, one to give a little more shape under the bust. The pinning may seem tedious and unnecessary but in addition to giving you some guidance while sewing, it also helps keep the fabric from slipping while stitching.

6. Now, it's time to start sewing 3 of your 4 seams. If using a stretch fabric, I recommend switching to a ballpoint needle. I used a normal straight stitch. I've read various tips on using stretch stitches but for this dress, I don't think it's necessary. Look at my fancy sketch! Those vertical lines are where you'll stitch. There is a faint light blue line towards the top, stitch there too! I couldn't change the color when I was drawing it.

7. Once you've sewn your elastic channels, fold the dress in half length-wise (like a hotdog bun), right sides together. Sew up the side seam sewing over the first elastic channel (yes, essentially closing it off) but stop just below the top channel. You'll need to rip out a couple stitches of the channel below the bustline so you can put the elastic through it.

8. Elastic time! I used 3/4" woven elastic. They sell non-roll elastic, pick that! It'll help stave off potential twisting. If you can't find it, that's okay. I've got another fix for twisty elastic. Anchor one end of the elastic at the opening with a safety pin. Put a safety pin on the other end as well to help you work through the channels. It helps if there's something more solid to grip. I never measure my elastic. I just thread it through the channel and out the other end, pulling to my desired stretchiness and then cutting it.

9. Once the ends of your elastic have met up on the outside, stitch them together so you don't lose them inside the dress. You should now have perfectly elasticized channels at the top and under the bustline of your dress.

10. Last step! At the top of the dress (where you didn't stitch the side seam up the whole way) tuck in the raw ends of the channel. Then, overlap them a bit so cover up the elastic. Stitch. Not only does this cover the elastic but, stitching the elastic to the dress will help it from twisting. You'll want to stitch the elastic in the dress on the other side as well. That way it'll be anchored on both sides giving it plenty of ease to stretch but keeping it flat within the dress. Do the same with the bust line elastic channel as well. I didn't bother hemming the bottom because the fabric won't unravel and the print is busy enough that it doesn't look unfinished. If you feel you need to hem the bottom, please do so. Although it does turn the dress into a 5 seam maxi. Still, not bad for an hour's work!

Put it on and enjoy!

I'm so pleased with the outcome. This dress is definitely coming to Mexico with me. If I could wear it everyday, I would. I want to make 10 more, but that would involve buying a lot more fabric. It's a vicious sewing cycle.

Did you make this dress? Let me know how it turned out!

Pumpkin, pumpkin everywhere!

Fall is here! I LOVE fall. I'm especially looking forward to cooler temperatures after the beastly summer we had in Ohio. Besides the climate, I also love fall food and drink! Cider, apples and of course, all things pumpkin! John and I are on a quest to try all available pumpkin beers. So far, we're off to a good start. Here are my first 4 tastings........

Sam Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale: This can only be found in the Sam Adams Harvest Collection 12-pack. And you only get 2 in there, so share wisely. Or hoard them, your choice. From the bottle: "brewed with over 11 pounds of real pumpkin per barrel, adding a full body and sweetness to this dark reddish amber brew. Deep roasted malts, including a smoked malt, lend a distinct roasted character while traditional pumpkin pie spices give the beer a subtle spice note." This was the first pumpkin ale I had this season so I was very excited about it and thought it was delicious. Then I started tasting the others. While this has pumpkin flavor, it's not as present as in some of the ones listed below.

America's Original Pumpkin Ale: This is a microbrew from Buffalo Bill's brewery. From the bottle: "a true original microbrew that uses baked and roasted pumpkins. Cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg are added to create what as been described as 'pumpkin pie in a bottle'." I totally agree! This is my favorite out of the bunch. It had the most pure pumpkin flavor to it, in my opinion.

Ichabod Pumpkin Ale: This is also a craft beer we tried in the pumpkin world. It has the added bonus of being spooky (Headless horseman!) From the bottle: "Ichabod combines malted barley and real pumpkin with cinnamon and nutmeg in a delicious and inviting brew. A rewarding complement to many dishes, Ichabod pairs well with autumnal foods such as poultry and root vegetables. After dinner, try it with your favorite dessert!" I think I shall! I really liked this one. Heavy on the pumpkin flavor and smooth drinking.

Shocktop Pumpkin Wheat Beer: I've never had any other Shocktop offerings because John doesn't really like it so we never buy it. But, owing to my mission I had to do a tasting of this. For $1, how could I pass it up? From the bottle: "traditional Belgian-style wheat ale brewed with ripe pumpkins and autumnal spices, including nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. This seasonal unfiltered wheat ale has a deep amber color and is crafted with a refreshingly distinct pumpkin spice that fully captures all the flavors of fall." This was good on its own merit but side by side with others, it wasn't my favorite. Not nearly as smooth as I hoped for and slightly bitter. The pumpkin did not come out as much as I like.

Which is your favorite? What should I try next?

City of Thieves

City of Thieves by David Benioff was recommended on a book blog that I follow. I generally like her suggestions and am still, apparently, on a historical fiction kick. So....here we go!

This book tells the tale of Lev Beniov, member of the Russian army, during World War II. He is caught stealing, which he didn't actually do, and thrown into the Crossings, a type of jail. Here he meets Kolya, who has been jailed for being a deserter. The Colonel takes a special interest in these two and tasks them with finding a dozen eggs to make his daughter's wedding cake. In exchange for the eggs, they will be freed from jail and allowed to live. Eggs, during wartime, are impossible to come by. Thus the journey begins. Along the way, Lev and Kolya meeting interesting characters, are nearly killed on more than one occasion, and fight to survive the frigid Russian winter settling around them while trying to tolerate each other and perhaps, become friends.

City of Thieves was a nice departure from some of my usual reads. Benioff does some good story telling and creates curious characters for the reader to discover. I really enjoyed the relationship between Lev and Kolya that formed in such a short span of time on their hunt for eggs. Fast read but worth a shot.

Rating: * * *

Spotty Dotty Dress

I'm not sure how I feel about this dress. I have had this fabric for years. Years, I tell you. It was my first attempt at sewing with stretch fabric. I did some research and took the advice of everything I read, stitching with a ballpoint needle. I'm not sure what that does but it seemed to work okay for me. I experimented on the two side seams with various stitches. I read conflicting information in that I should or should not be zigzagging. One side I did, one side I didn't. The zigzagged seam was bubbly and amateurish. The straight seam puckered slightly less so I stuck with that for the rest of the dress. Also, stretch zigzag uses a LOT of thread.

I went patternless on this one and used the dimensions from a dress I own and love. When will I ever learn to account for ease? WHEN?! It's essentially 4 pieces, back panel, lower front panel and two shoulder/chest panels. I wanted them to overlap more than they do. When I wore this to work, I put a tank top on under it. I don't think it's too revealing without it but I felt more comfortable with it and didn't want to be tugging at it all day long.


Because it was super boxy, I added elastic right under the bust line. I'm not sure what happened with that but I had all this bunchy fabric on the sides. While sewing, I kind of felt like this dress was a lost cause. I don't know that I'll ever wear it on its own but, over a tank top, under a jacket, with leggings, it's not half bad. You can't see all my wonky seams unless you're right up on them.

All in all, people who say "sewing with stretch knits is so simple" are wrong. I'm not giving up but it was about as hard as I anticipated it would be. I'm not sure if using a pattern would have helped or not. I was worried the dress was too short but it passed my arm test. In high school, if you put your arms down to your sides, your shorts or skirt had to come past your fingertips or you were sent home. This dress falls well past that mark, and I have long arms. It has the added bonus of being very comfortable but still, the jury is out.

P.S. I still need a new camera. And a new photographer. Mine refused to put shoes on and didn't want to walk out on the grass in his socks. That's why these are so far away.