sewing • cooking • crafting • all things domestic
I know this is going to sound very strange, but I actually like spring cleaning. Do I love the everyday picking up of toys, crumbs and other surprises that my girls leave around?......well, not so much. But I have to admit that a good deep cleaning around this house feels really good (while it lasts, that is).Click HERE to check out my spring cleaning tips and enter to win $100 Visa Gift Card AND the new Libman Freedom Spray Mop! … continue reading
Yesterday I posted my recipe for Spicy Grilled Shrimp with Corn Relish. Well, we had some leftovers and I decided it would be fun to turn them into something new for the following dinner. There are very few additional ingredients for this pasta dish, but your family will never know they are eating something very similar to the night before.If you would like to make this dish, but fear you might not have any leftovers from the night before, just plan ahead and make a double recipe of the spicy shrimp.Leftover Remix: Grilled Shrimp and Roasted Corn … continue reading
A week ago it actually felt like spring here in Chicago (though today, not so much), so I had grilling on the brain. One of my favorite foods is grilled shrimp and I came up with this spicy grilled shrimp recipe with corn relish that is perfect for those warm weather days. This recipe may appear to have a lot of ingredients, but most of the spices can be found in your pantry. Spicy Grilled Shrimp with Corn Relish Serves 4-6 Ingredients: Shrimp: 1 lb. raw shrimp, shells on 1/4 cup olive oil 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 Tablespoon fresh cilantro, … continue reading
In case you missed my guest blog post on "No Big Dill" about a month ago, here it is........... To me, the "Dick and Jane" books are the epitome of retro, children's storybook classics. The images in these books bring me such comfort. They remind us of simpler times, they remind us when life was slower and more easy going. I often wonder if I was born during the correct time period because it seems that everything vintage always has a soft-spot in my heart. I personally did not grow up with the "Dick and Jane" book series, but my mom grew up learning … continue reading
I have been wanting to make the "Early Empire Cinch" from Anna Maria Horner's book, Handmade Beginnings - 24 Sewing Projects to Welcome Baby since before I was even pregnant. I purchased this book because it had some projects that I wanted to make for Matilda and had some really great baby gift ideas.There is an entire chapter in this book dedicated for "Mama Sewing" and that's where you will find the "Early Empire Cinch" plus tons of other great projects for anyone who is expecting.I had my husband snap a few pictures of me before I went out to run some errands … continue reading
Happy Easter! Just a quick little blog post wishing you a very Happy Easter. We started out our day by checking out what the Easter bunny had brought for the girls, followed by a little egg hunt inside the house. Next we met my in-laws for Easter Mass, followed by a delicious brunch at one of our favorite local restaurants. And, to our surprise, we actually had some decent weather, so when we got home we headed outside so the girls could hunt for more eggs in the front yard. It was a truly lovely day. I hope you all had a great time during your Easter … continue reading
In case you missed the very last line of that poem..........Can you believe it? I think I'm still in shock, but we are beyond thrilled! My husband and I just kind of assumed we'd have another girl since we have two already, but when the ultra-sound technician told us the news, we were utterly stunned.Me, miss "all about all things girly" is going to be the mama to a little man? Yippee! This little guy is going to change our family dynamic for sure. We got some great ultrasound pictures of him and I think he looks just perfect (of course I do, I'm his mama). I … continue reading
My husband and I have a thing for southwestern cuisine. We love it all! I think I could serve my husband southwestern food every day of his life and he would never get tired of it........and neither would I. We're a match made in heaven, I guess.We both love Chile Rellenos, which is what I originally considered making with these beautiful poblano peppers. But the idea of frying something didn't really appeal to me, so I came up with this slightly healthier alternative - Stuffed Poblano Peppers. These peppers are stuffed with a mixture of tomatoes, green … continue reading
I'm not joking when I say that this recipe is ridiculously good! I can't take credit for this one since it is actually a Rachel Ray recipe, but man, I had to blog about it because my husband and I just loved all the flavors. This recipe has the perfect balance of sweet, tart and savory all in one bite. Serve it with mashed or roasted potatoes and you have a meal that is fit for entertaining (or an easy weeknight dinner). I'm not going to post the recipe here, since I can take credit for it, but you can find it HERE. I will, however, tell you the minor … continue reading
And the winner of The Modest Mom giveaway is..........Congratulations, Jessi! Please email me at thecottagemama[at]gmail[dot]com with your contact information and we will get your sizing and skirt mailed out to you as soon as possible. Thank you to everyone who entered! And if you didn't win, I highly recommend ordering from The Modest Mom - her skirts are handmade with the highest quality! … continue reading
Lindsay Wilkes is the owner and designer behind The Cottage Mama. She creates timeless, vintage inspired sewing patterns for children’s clothes. She is also a fabric designer for Riley Black Designers / Penny Rose Fabrics, author of the book ‘Sew Classic Clothes for Girls’ and can be seen teaching nationwide and online in her video series ‘Lessons with Lindsay’ sponsored by Baby Lock Sewing and Embroidery machines.
Welcome! My name is Lindsay Wilkes and I am the owner / designer of The Cottage Mama, a boutique children's sewing pattern company and the author behind, 'Sew Classic Clothes for Girls'. The Cottage Mama blog is where I share my love for sewing, cooking and crafting and all things domestic. If you like what you see, you can read more about me HERE.
