Reusable "green" sandwich bags

If you pack your lunch everyday like I do, you probably use tupperware or Ziploc bags. I hate how bulky tupperware containers are... and I hate how wasteful Ziploc bags can be.

Enter: reusable sandwich bags!

I have been eyeing these on Etsy for a while now. But, they were just a little too pricey for me. I knew I could make them myself with my own fabric choices. Plus, I love sewing, but hardly ever make anything for myself.

So, I looked a couple tutorials, and while they gave me great ideas and inspiration, none of them were exactly what I wanted. Plus, I knew that some of these tutorials were just making it more complicated than it needed to be. I ended up using techniques from two different tutorials to make the bags I wanted (from Clover Creek Baby and Crafty Staci).

I ended up with something I love -- I can't wait to use them! I decided to post a photo tutorial. Keep reading below for pictures and step-by-step directions.

Recent favorite things

Best part about snow days and extra days off? Lots of time for baking and sewing! Here are some of my recent favorite things...

Insulated Casserole Carrier

I made this as a birthday present for a friend over the weekend. I had to talk myself out of keeping it. :) Turned out beautiful, and the best part? She loved it. I'll definitely will be making these for everyone on my Christmas list!

Check out the tutorial at 2 Little Hooligans.

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

These are sinful. So good. They take up the whole morning, but it was the perfect recipe for a snowed-in day. Amazing without frosting... but the cream cheese frosting is to die for!

Check out the recipe at Six Sisters' Stuff.

P.S. -- use heavy duty thread to cut the rolls! They keep their shape this way!

Simple Shredded Chicken

We eats tons of chicken in our house. But, I seriously hate shredding chicken breasts. I recently saw somewhere that you can use your Kitchenaid mixer to shred hot chicken. Worked perfectly! I literally threw the hot chicken breasts in, turned it on for 1 minute, and it was perfect.

T-Shirt Quilt - Part 1 of 2

I am beyond excited about my weekend project. I have been wanting to make a t-shirt quilt for a long time now. My drawers are full of soft, comfy t-shirts that I just can't part with. Perfect solution - make an uber-soft t-shirt quilt.

However, I did not want a traditional 12x12 square quilt. I know I made it more complicated than it needed to be [typical me] - but I absolutely LOVE the patchwork, hodge-podge of this quilt. PLUS -- the fabric was FREE!

Next weekend, I plan to add batting and bind it. Since I can't get soft fabric large enough to back this -- I think I will use a flat flannel queen-size sheet (and it will be super soft like the t-shirts!)

I prefer to *tie* my quilts instead of *sew* my quilts... but I think it's because I had a tied quilt when I was little, so I have a special place in my heart for them!

Once I have this one fully done... then it's time to make one from Tyson's old t-shirts! One day when we have little Andersons, they can cuddle up in our t-shirt quilts and we can tell them the story that goes along with each one.

I can't wait to see how it comes together next weekend!