Completely Stressed!

Okay.  It's really not that bad.  Just having a little 'drama' moment over here.  I just really have a hard time when things don't come together as planned.

Wood MDF Project for kids' closet.


Fondant.  Very colorful, but very sticky and impossible to work with.


Unfortunately, not every project turns out perfectly.  But you already knew that, right?

At least I have a long weekend to spend extra time with family and friends.  Plus, I'll be able to get rested up for all the projects that need to be completed next week!  (See, I do it to myself!)

Have a WONDERFUL Easter weekend everyone!!

Please Stand By......

Though the image isn't clear, I'm sure the message is getting through.  I'm trying to get ready for a birthday party that will probably be full of rain.  Hmm.... what to do with 12 girls ages 8-10 on a rainy day when all you have planned are outside activities?  I'm having to revise some plans and rethink the cake ideas.  


It will all come together in the end, but right now I just want to hide in a dark closet with a Milky Way candy bar.  :)

Growing!!

It's funny how excited Kevin and I are about our little garden plots.  (Actually, it's a bit ridiculous!)  The seeds that were planted two weeks ago are sprouting very nicely.  And, now we've added tomato plants, pepper plants, a few herbs and more seed.  See?

The kids got to help plant the green beans, corn and cucumbers.  I think the most fun they had was getting permission to walk in the dirt.  :)

We even have some flowers on the strawberry plants one of our wonderful neighbors gave us.

I may regret having all of this in about three months, but for now I really love looking out each morning to see what new sprout is coming up.

Diaper Bag and Extras

Things have been CrAzY around here for the past couple of weeks.  It's always difficult when Kevin is away on business, but he is usually only gone for a couple of days at a time.  These last trips were 5 days one week and 4 days the next.  My hat's off to all the single parents out there!

Even though my weeks were a bit off and very busy, I was SO happy to finally get this project done for a friend.  Lindsay, who has a little boy and was blessed with twin baby girls this past November, was having trouble finding a diaper bag she liked, that was big enough, for the right price.  This diaper bag was exactly what she needed.  And, bonus, she got to pick out the material!

Front View

Inside

And, since I had some extra time {ahem}, I decorated a wipe case and made a holder for some hand sanitizer with the scrap fabrics.  A mom has to have the completed look, right?

A closer look....

Hand Sanitizer Holder

Wipe Case

Such a fun project over all and the tutorial was well written and easy to follow.  Highly recommend!

Spring Planting

We've been getting excited this year about all the possibilities a small garden plot can give us.  Kevin has been hard at work building and positioning frames.

Moving LOTS of dirt.

Building a second raised bed and moving more dirt.

We got a surprise one day full of this toward the end of March.

And now we finally have some plants planted.

The kids played in the sunshine.

 Little Man got in on the action from a distance (yes, he is in a pink seat).

 We plotted out a grid.

 And finally planted some early season items.

We're looking forward to enjoying some fresh lettuce, snow peas, kale, and carrots before too long.  As the season moves on and gets warmer, we hope to get some tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, beans and asparagus planted.  Can't wait to share it all with you as the sprouts start to come up (and you can see them without me having to point them out in the picture).

Cake Decorating Purchase

Our oldest turns 8 at the end of April.  So hard to believe I have a child that old!  We have decided this is a good year/age to have a birthday party (something we rarely do).

If all the stars were alligned, I would be having my friend Anna make the cake.  (Check out some of her creations here.)  Since the stars are against me, I'll be making the cake.  I'm excited and extremely nervous about venturing back into cake decorating.  Especially since I have used Fondant only once in the past.  I'm sure it won't be difficult.  I just hope I can get the images I have in my head out.  Fortunately, I have a few weeks before the actual party to practice.

While brainstorming about party themes, she really liked the idea of  a Hawaiian theme.  There are some amazingly cute ideas out there on the internet!  And some crazy good looking cakes!

Now, to get some invitations, decorations, cake idea finalized, menu........

Universal Pacifier Holder And Tutorial

Our little butterball has been dubbed 'Sir Throws-A-Lot' by my husband.  Having a son with a great throwing arm is something of which to be proud; however, it can be hugely embarrassing in the middle of church services.  Since we usually sit close to the front on the middle isle, there are many times Kevin has to get up and retrieve a pacifier or toy in view of the whole congregation.  I seriously don't know how our preacher keeps a straight face.

As always, when I have a problem, it's a reason for a craft project.  Since S uses a Soothie pacifier, it's hard to find a holder that will work with it.  So I had to get a little creative.  (I'm pretty sure I've seen some very similar to these out on the market, too.)

I didn't think about taking pictures through the process, but here is what I did.

Supplies:

1/2" twill strap - about 12" (or whatever you prefer)

1/8" cording - 7" or 8"

clip for end

Fray Check

extra sewing machine needle

Tape

Use Fray Check (or something similar) on both ends of your twill.  Allow to dry.

Tape your cording to a sewing machine needle.  This will help you get the cording through the twill.  Just gently wiggle it all through.  It might take a little finessing, but it is doable.

Try not to go back through the same hole.  (This will prevent the cord from eventually coming out of the twill and leaving a big hole.)  Tie a knot in the cording.

 Put the other end through the clip part.  Fold both ends over and secure with some stitches on the machine.

 Such an easy thing to make!

Now you can attach just about anything to your child and save you some embarrassment.

***Remember to head over to the new Facebook page and hit 'Like' if you want to receive post notices.  I'll be deleting the old one this weekend.

Who Put a Knot in Her Elastic?!?

Wah, wah, wah, wah...........

Trying feverishly to get a huge sewing project done and a few other thing accomplished before tomorrow.  I would hate to feel guilty while reading my new book.

A Good Book: Volume 3

I have several new books I'm waiting to get my hands on this spring/summer.  Right now I'm counting down the days to the release of City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Claire.

Thought about putting up a countdown widget, then thought that was a bit much. Obviously, it is available for pre-order all over the place and a release date of April 5th. I'm already on the waiting list at our local library, but we'll see if I can hold out or just go out and purchase it.  Here's a link to the first chapter if you would like to get a sneak peak.  I'm busy re-reading the previous 3 books to make sure I still remember the story line.  {ahem}









Here is good series for all ages.  These have a lot of action in them, relatable characters and they are quick reads.  Good books if you are having trouble finding something for a boy to read and be interested in.   FYI - the movie does not do the books justice.












I'll have to do a bit of search on my library page to see all the other books I've read -  drawing a blank right now.  Plus, I'm a little preoccupied:  I'll be starting to teach the 2nd and 3rd graders tomorrow at church and I have too many things running through my mind right now.

Have a great weekend!