Minky and Flannel Baby Blanket

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I can not claim to be a sewer but I am a proud owner of a sewing machine. I do enjoy zipping around a piece of fabric now and again. Though I can not boast in my work I can confess I have fun trying. I grew up with a mom who is an amazing sewer and quilter at that! I know the look of a beautiful stitch, perfect corners and amazing craftsmanship when I see it. Knowing all of this has kept me from the confidence of just trying my hand at much when it comes to sewing. As well as the need to even try... why when mom could do a fabulous job for me? Now that I am miles away from mom, I decided why not just try to create a blanket for my sweet baby boy? Who needs perfect when I could just have fun in the process? Perfect was FAR from accomplished but fun and satisfaction was most definitely achieved.

A very basic border of minky fabric squares with a center of flannel fabric. The back is a solid piece of blue minky fabric. I  then tied the center with embroidery thread to keep the middle from sliding around as well as adding a bit of  fun.

Though I will not be winning any awards on this one, I did get "wows" and "awe" from my adoring fans... my kids! I even have orders piling up to make more... oh the sweet support of my children. 

I hope this encourages you to just try whatever it is you have been hesitant, but wanting to do, because the lack of perfection will be present. I am so glad I did. It is only for the courage of mistakes that lead us to masterpieces!

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A Royal Princess Dinner

A little girl's dream... to have a royal dinner with the Disney Princesses. We spent a week stomping all over Walt Disney World in Florida creating many wonderful memories. One highlight of our experience was dinning in Cinderella's Castle and getting to meet the Princesses. Each girl (except my nine year old who was not interested) picked out the princess dress of her choice for the occasion. This really added to the fun and splendor of the night.
When we returned home from our vacation we decided it would be fun to have Grace, my oldest be chef to her princess sisters. Grace selected her recipes from her crockpot cookbook (click here Kids In the Kitchen) and prepared her appetizer, entree and dessert. She then served us all and we enjoyed a Royal dinner at home in our "castle". What fun it was to have a wonderful memory extend into our "common" lives. 

Princesses ready for their Royal dinner of  Garden Salad, Creamy Lasagna, and Apple Crisp Ala mode for dessert.

 We got to enjoy our vacation with cousins.

Two of my princesses dressed in commoners clothes in front of Cinderella's Castle.
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80 Nails Painted!

I have four kids... that translates to mean I am the keeper and maintainer of 80 finger nails and toe nails (not including my own)! I remember when I was pregnant with my third child and it dawning on me jut how many fingers and toes I needed to keep manicured... oh man! I should have gotten my manicurist license!
We are headed off on a child's dream vacation (and a child at heart like myself) to Walt Disney World. I had the bright idea to paint each of my girls finger nails and toes and adorn them with a Mickey Mouse head. Remember I do not have my manicurist license so do not judge the appearance of my girls nails. Thankfully to my girls they do not look like black hearts, but rather Mickey Mouse and that is all that counts.

What I used to create Mickey Mouse:
Nail Polish
Q-tip with the cotton taken off the end
Toothpick with the pointed tip cut off

What I did:
I first painted the nail the color of my daughter's choice
Then once the nail was dry, I put black paint on the end of the bald Q-tip. I used this for Mickey's head. Then I put black paint on the end of the cut off toothpick for Mickey's ears.
There you have it. Very easy to make Mickey... um for a professional or a talented person like yourself. I have very happy girls who are all the more excited about their Disney Vacation! Just a bit of added extra fun!

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Backpack Tags

So many girls... so many backpacks! Two and two and who is who? With four little girls and two of each kind of backpack I knew I needed a simple way of telling the bags apart. As well as for even the youngest child who can not yet read, to identify her own bag.
I had a bigger plan in my head as to how I would decorate backpack tags, but true to form, I ran out of time and needed something fast and easy!
Here is what I came up with.

I went back to my old friend Microsoft Word and came up with this very simple and easy tag. I used my girls initials, since these are for travel and I just do not want their names on their bags. I had each child choose their own picture to help them identify quickly and easily which is their bag.
Then I found these self laminating tags in the travel section at Target. It was $5.00 for a box of four.

They turned out cute for as easy as this ended up being.

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Gifts For Baby

A wonderful friend of mine and her mom surprised me with a gift for our little baby boy! I was so touched and blessed by their thoughtfulness toward us as well as their excitement for our first boy! I just love what they made for me! I wanted to share it with all of you for ideas and inspiration. Either for your own little one or as a gift. Let me tell you, your recipient will be thrilled and blessed, just as I was!

 A darling blanket made from two different flannel fabrics. I can just picture our little boy putting this to use. Adorable!

Matching burp clothes... how fun is that!

Love it! I know this will be a favorite of our little  boy! All those ribbons to grab on to and cover them with slobber! I can not wait!
What a joy and blessing to have this surprise package at my doorstep! It just makes the fact that we are having a boy (uncharted territory for our family) all the more real! Thank you to my beautiful friend and her beautiful mom!

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Kids In the Kitchen

I love having my kids in the kitchen with me... most of the time. Sometimes I just need to get dinner on the table after a full day of non stop demands and mishaps with out added extra stress. I knew that the ideal scenario for me to have my kids cook dinner with me, is easy and early. Not at the end of the day when  everyone is hungry, tired and needs my attention. When dare I say... my patience is low. 
A while back I began searching for a good, EASY cookbook for kids. I really wanted a cookbook that did not require my kids, who are still very young to be over a hot stove or opening a hot oven. My ideal book would be recipes for the Crockpot. I was so thrilled when I came across this kids cookbook on one of our outings to the bookstore. The moment I opened it I knew I had found exactly what I had been desiring. The recipe instructions are easy for a child to read and understand. The pictures on the pages are not cluttered and overwhelming. The ingredients are not strange but rather kid friendly and adult appetizing as well. Recipes that my kids could make for the whole family to enjoy for dinner. Recipes that are made early in the day and ready when everyone is hungry! Fabulous!

I not only want my kids to have fun dumping ingredients in a bowl, I want the time they spend in the kitchen to be rich with learning. From measuring out ingredients to the responsibility of cleaning up, I want my kids to learn the joy of serving others. Each child has a turn to learn to be the servant of all when it is her day to be the family chef. That child is the one who prepares the meal, sets the table, fills the drinks, serves each person and helps clean up when dinner is done. The joy and pleasure my children have in doing this, is a great reminder to me that is the attitude I too need to maintain in my heart! Meal time does not just have to be one more task required of us as parents, but rather one more opportunity to teach our children the joy of serving others.

Grace chose to make a Taco dish that was not only easy it was yummy! As you can see she chose to serve dinner on paper plates... smart girl! Easy clean up!













Since I have more than one Crockpot, we decided it would be fun to have Grace make dinner in one and dessert in the other. For dessert she choose a Gooey Chocolate Cake that was oh so gooey good! The cake was warm, topped with vanilla ice cream that melted in and added to the yummy factor!

Does this picture make you want to purchase a cookbook for your kiddos?

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Closet Blues

Here is just a little something I have been up to. Only a peek though since I am still in the process and there is much to be done. See if you can guess where this is taking place.

In a previous post I painted this ugly school shelf I have. Notice that the closet is painted in the color that is found throughout my home. Not a bad color, just not my choice. When we bought our house, every wall and closet had a fresh coast of paint... all the same paint, this paint. Slowly I am changing that. The room this closet is in has been painted by me now three times, the closet obviously remained untouched. Thank goodness! Even though the space is small the job was back bending, even the ceiling was painted!

I painted the room blue, painted the shelf and just could NOT live with the closest unpainted any longer! I was unsure if I would have enough blue paint left over from painting the room. I sure did not want to buy more, so I got creative. The kids bathroom is different shade of blue and I definitely have enough of that paint. So it was worth taking a chance. I also thought having the closet a different color would not overpower the room with so much blue!

 Now doesn't that look better?
It was definitely worth bending my back for. The blues look nice together... what a relief!

Remember... just a peek! Did you guess what room this is? Check back for more!

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