M&M Cookies!

I told you a few days ago that I've been baking more, and it's true- the other night I made tasty cookies from this recipe on Squidoo. It SAYS that it makes 50 cookies...but I only got about 35 out of it- and that was while making a conscious effort to make them small. If I don't pay attention to that, I tend to make HUGE cookies.

Yum. While I'd like summer to last many, many more months, in the winter it'll be nice to bake up a storm without dealing with overheating the already hot apartment. I'm already thinking about yeast breads, and pretzels, and also eating my roommate's delicious cupcake recipes...so stay tuned.

Sweet Links Sunday: Sewing 101 on See Kate Sew

I haven't posted any "Sweet Links Sundays" in a while, and with the number of tutorials and inspirations I save on a weekly basis, it's about time! I first learned to sew back in middle school, but most of what I've learned I've figured out for myself in recent years, or even more recently picked up by reading blogs and interacting with people online. It's a great time to learn how to do anything- so much information is so easily available.

If you're not following See Kate Sew, it's a blog I recommend checking out. Click below to check out her great series, sewing 101. She has a number of helpful tutorials, from Fabric Grain Explained, to using a ruffler foot, to tips about using patterns.

Do you have any favorite technique tutorials that have helped you out, whether or not you're a beginner? Leave a link in the comments and let me know!

Banana Poppyseed Bread Recipe

The kitchen in our new apartment is SUCH an improvement on the old, which was small and dark with subpar appliances. It's a treat to finally be able to cook and bake in a nice space!  The other night I made poppyseed banana bread- modified from a traditional recipe which called for walnuts, which I didn't have at the time.

Banana Poppyseed Bread Recipe
1/3 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 cup mashed banana
1-2 tbsp poppy seeds

Cream together shortening and sugar; add eggs and mix. Add dry ingredients and banana. Stir in poppyseeds. Pour into a greased loaf pan. My original recipe said to bake at 350 degrees for 60-65 minutes; my bread was clearly done in about 40. This was the first time using the new oven and definitely something to get used to. Cool on a rack.

I modified the recipe from the 1963 Better Homes and Gardens Bread Cookbook. Just a side note: I ordered the cookbook  from Amazon.com  on accident, having meant to get the 1970s version, which my parents have. I recommend the 70s version over the 60s; it contains a better range of recipes and doesn't have semi-useless sections on disturbing looking deli meat/cream cheese loafs like this one:

Enjoy!

WIWW: 4th of July Housewife

I hadn't planned on linking up to The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday today, but then I put together an outfit I haven't ever worn before (for once) so it seemed like good timing.

I love this shirt, but it's a bit too denim-looking to wear with jeans (for my taste), so I usually only wear it with my high-waisted black skirt. Today I threw it on over this strapless gingham dress and so here I am with some red, white, and blue action in August. I resisted the urge to add some bright red lipstick into the mix, because I do feel like I'm about to take a casserole to a pot luck in the park.

Note: I just stopped by The Pleated Poppy to link up (over 100 participants!), and this week is a thrifting challenge- which, as you might know, is totally what I'm going for here at Simply Step Back.

I'm Wearing:

Sleeveless Button-Down Shirt: Secondhand (was my mom's)

Red and White Gingham Dress: Goodwill, $6

Blue Flats (not pictured):  Savers, $5

Belt: Thrifted by a friend

The Sorbetto Top: Complete!

I finally completed Colette Patterns' Sorbetto top! If you're unfamiliar with this pattern, it's free to download here at Colette Patterns' website. I first decided that I wanted to make it when Mena at The Sew Weekly did a Sorbetto challenge- she sewed seven in seven days! The Sorbetto is a great pattern because it's easily embellished and changed; the variations are endless. Plus, it's free.

This top can be easily finished in a short evening. Mine took two because of a change of plans. I originally planned to use a sleeve pattern that Mena developed specifically for the Sorbetto. The sleeve looked even flouncier with the fabric I used (a cotton sheet). Next time, if I add a sleeve, I will know to widen the shoulder strap of the original pattern first. Flouncy doesn't really work for broad shoulders like mine, so after a day of deliberation, off came the sleeves.

Other than that, the pattern came together easily, just like everyone says. This is a great pattern for a beginner. It was my first attempt finishing with bias tape, and I really liked it much more than I thought I would (although my seams are far from perfect). Thanks to a tip from a friend, I made my RTW size (but added 3-4 inches of length). I did end up taking in an inch or two on each side, but I'm glad I waited till the end to do so.

Summary? The Sorbetto is an easy, fun pattern that I'll definitely make again, but with a different sleeve or lighter fabric next time. It's also a great intro to sewing with bias tape. Have you made a Sorbetto? Leave a link in the comments; I'd love to see!

DIY Maxi Dress Tutorials

I'm not entirely sold on the maxi dress and how well it would work for me, but I've seen a lot of great tutorials go by for making them- which seems like a great idea! I'm sure that most people h ave trouble finding one in stores that's the ideal length for them. Here's a few great options.

 via Sweet Verbena

 via Sew Petite Gal

Via Sew Much Ado

via At Second Street

Have you made one of these, or a different maxi dress? Leave a comment and let me know!

DIY Urban Outfitters Rug

Today I came across this rug tutorial by Xoelle.  It's made out of dyed white tshirt strips- totally easy, inexpensive, and something any of us could do. And it's obviously soft enough that even a baby could sleep on it.

Coincidentally, just about an hour later I was at Urban Outfitters today and saw a very similar rug. This one, available online , is multi-colored; the one I spotted in stores was white.This UO rug ranges from $25-$60 depending on the size; I'd definitely consider DIYing it for less!

Cosmetics Giveaway at The Cute Octopus!

If you're interested in trying out some new cosmetics, head over to The Cute Octopus where my friend Emily is hosting a giveaway for an E.L.F. color stick and eye shadow brush.

Emily's blog is worth checking out for more than just the giveaway- she's super creative, and has a great Etsy shop, too. If you need any more convincing, just look at her nails in the pic above. She did those herself- with actual paint.

Click here to enter the giveaway!

Top Ten Posts

Since August 9th marked one year of blogging, here's a recap of the top ten most visited posts of the last year. Some of these have held top spots almost the whole time- and it's easy to see that tutorials are the biggest hit.

1. Tutorial: Make an Upcycled Sweater Dress from a Men's Sweater

2. Tutorial: Quick Refit for a Too-Big Top

3. Tutorial: Easy Ruffled Scarf

4. T-Shirt to Cowl Scarf

5. Tutorial: Easy Flower Bobby Pins

6. Refitted Men's Shirt

7. Tutorial: Lace Keyhole Top from Polo

8. Anda/Butterick Dress

9. Embellished Ruffle Top

10. Flower Headband

WIWW: Purple Pencil Skirt

It figures that less than a week before I move, I realize that our front balcony is a great place to do photos. This is my first time linking up to the Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday in weeks and weeks.

Not only is this a thrifty-WIWW (as usual), it's also sort of a practical project post. My friend thrifted this skirt, didn't want it, and gave it to me. It didn't quite fit and I tossed it in my "donate" pile for a while before taking in the sides this week. Now I love it!

I really like pencil skirts, but they're always tight and then when I tuck in my shirt, you can see all the shirt lumps and bumps through the skirt. How do you avoid that? Any ideas?

I'm Wearing:

White Scoopneck Tee: Kohls, $4

Red Skinny Belt: Goodwill, $1

Purple Skirt: Thrifted by a friend, refit by me

Black Heels: Payless Shoes, $16

(The black flats I really wore today (not pictured): Rummage sale, $1)

One Year of Blogging

I've been blogging for exactly one year today! There's been ups and downs and lots of projects, some better than others. Thanks for all your great comments, encouragement and interest. I started this blog just for fun- because I like writing and it seemed like a great way to keep myself accountable. I never thought that Simply Step Back would have over 500 followers within a year.

Check out August 9th 2010's post- a t-shirt that I upcycled to a ruffled strapless top. Does the bright green wall and cluttered background give away that this was a rookie post?

Thanks for following me, especially those of you who have stuck around for the full year! I fully intend to still be blogging on August 9, 2012, so here's to another year of Simply Step Back! 

Upcoming

Things you can expect in the next week or two:

• A finished one-shoulder dress
• A finished infinity scarf
• A GIVEAWAY celebrating 500 followers on my blog (and my "blogiversary" which is coming up very soon)! You guys are awesome (and I'm also taking suggestions for giveaway items, by the way).
• My apartment cleaned and packed up
• My stuff and I all moved into my NEW apartment

I know the last two (and the fact that I am nearly done with summer classes) aren't very exciting to anyone except maybe my roommate. But please rest assured that I'd rather be sewing and blogging than most of my "required" activities, especially packing my things into boxes. I need two weeks of vacation- one to go somewhere tropical and the next to tackle all of my projects. How about you?