Goodbye, Shower Curtain... Hello, Paint Smock!!!

    I picked up a shower curtain from goodwill a couple months ago, just because I loved the design.  I didn't really know what I was going to do with it at the time but I couldn't resist the purchase.  I finally figured out what it was truly meant to be.....a paint smock for my little miss.  Sadie was so delighted  dis-interested in wearing it the first time around.  She kept asking for her cooking apron instead.  I was persistant and she eventually complied and wore the up-cycled project her mother slaved over.  I did enjoy making it but of course I made quite a few errors; the pattern is upside down, I completely forgot about the pockets, and had already sewn the bias tape all around so I had to add those in later, and one side has perfectly straight stitching while the other...well let's just say I bet Sadie could have done a better job.  I couldn't seem to hold the material in the right place which caused crooked stitching more than once but I won't tell you how many times.  I can't seem to make anything right the first time I try, which is so frustrating for me since I want every detail to be perfect.  I remind myself constantly that I am still learning so that I don't give up.  My frustration builds when I stare at that crooked stitching though, so I've decided I must ignore that side and look at the pretty straight side instead.  Ahhh, it makes me feel all peaceful inside.  Crazy much?

     

Sadie + finger paint = one happy girl!!! 

This is a Toilet!

   In the midst of potty training I have decided I am more nervous and anxious about this endeavor than little Miss Sadie is.  I made a potty book starring Sadie herself practicing on the toilet, flushing, and washing her hands.  It is so cute!  Now I just need to decide when to have a 'Potty Party' and give her the doll that actually wets....eek!  Wish me luck.

Tony's Birthday Cake

     Tony turned 30 on Sunday.  Did he get a suprise birthday party?  No, I wouldn't dare make him mad at me for such a thing.  The words suprise and party don't sit well with Tony.  Me, on the other hand.....I think it sounds like a great idea!  (hint hint Tony)  Just kidding!  Anyways, we did celebrate a little.  I got him a pair of sweet looking shoes, the second pair, not so sweet and will be makin' their way back to the store.  Sadie got him a 2011 calendar with pictures of her and Ty.  I wanted his birthday to be a little bit special so I attempted baking a new cake just for him!  All of you with nut allergies should ignore the rest of this post.  This dessert will be toxic to my brother, my nephew, and a cousin I believe. And now, I present to you the  Reese's Peanut Butter Cake.  (I didn't take the time to scrape the sides to make it look like a real Reese's; you know with the ridges, because I didn't want to waste the scrumptious chocolate.  

I got this recipe from a girls blog about her family's favorite recipes. 
http://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/2008/07/reeses-peanut-butter-cup-cake.html

     As for me....New Year Resolutions about eating healthier food always start February 1st ...or is it after February 14th .....either way I know it's not January first.  Right now I am just enjoying the goodness of home-made Reeses!  I have decided to limit the time I eat though.  I've coined the phrase in my house, "Eights too Late!"  If I want a sugary/chocolatey/salty snack and its after 8pm I won't have it.  But if I am desperately hungry than I allow myself a fruit or vegetable.  I know you think it sounds lame but I spice it up a bit for example, celery and PB&J or cream cheese, pinnaple and cottage cheese, etc.  I have found in just the past few weeks that if I do this than I don't overeat late at night like I use to which in turn makes me feel much better when I lay down to go to sleep.  Hope you all are going strong with your resolutions this year so far!  I am still thinking up some new ones with each passing day.  The latest on my list:  Limit myself to reading just 5 books at a time.....six is just too many at once.  ha ha ha  

Toddler Wrist Ribbons

     Sadie has been asking me to turn on music so she can dance almost every day for the past week.  She says the funniest thing as soon as I come back to her, "No, No, No, Mommy!  Mommy sit!"  Either I am a horrible dance partner or she just wants to be the center of attention?  I will leave my dance skills up for discussion but clarify that yes, Sadie does love to be the center of attention.   Although there are times she lets me dance with her, I am often banished to the couch while she parades around the living room in circles.  So, I have taken this opportunity to relax by leisurely looking at magazines or books and enjoy the show.
     I love looking at catalogs even if I am not in the market to purchase anything.  I find it amusing and at times, inspirational.  This was one of those times.  The product 'wrist ribbons' caught my eye and I just knew I had to have some for Missy (sometimes this is what I call Sadie, I don't know why but she seems to like it).  I pulled out my stash of material scraps and put these together this morning.  Here she is wearing them while we practiced her new favorite song.

        "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands..."  



"If you're happy and you know it, stomp your feet..."

"If you're happy and you know it, shout hooray!"

"If you're happy and you know it,

then you're face will surely show it.

If you're happy and you know it do all three,

clap, clap....stomp, stomp....hooray!"

     I want to get this on video sometime.  When she shouts hooray it is the cutest thing and it makes Tony and I laugh everytime. 

     Go ahead and sing this song ...out-loud.  I know you want to.  I will even bet that you can't sing this song without smiling and feeling happier while doing it.  Give it a try and let me know how much happier you are!

Bedskirt to Fun Apron!

    
     I have really gotten into sewing lately.  I admit, I don't know all the rules to sewing and I often mutter to myself, "What am I suppose to do?".   Although I often make frustrating mistakes I am determined to learn. No matter how many mistakes I make I will keep plugging along in hopes that one day I will feel confident enough to say, "Sure Sadie, I'll make your prom dress.  No, problem!".  Here is where I must take a moment to thank my mother for the prom dress she made me years ago.  I wanted this trim on the sheer outer layer of the fabric and she complied with my request even though the task was anything but easy.  I have learned now that some fabrics are harder than others to work with; sheer being one of them, but of course the dress turned out beautifully.  She even made a matching bag from the leftover material....now that's being a magnificent mommy!  Thank you mom!  (I'd share a picture of that dress but it was in the days of non-digital photography....lucky me.)
     My newly formed interest in sewing has spawned an even greater interest in upcycling.  Taking something old and transforming it into something new is so fun.  My friend Emily made one of these skirt aprons for her daughter to hold her crayons and when she showed it to me I instantly knew what to do with the bedskirts I had purchased from goodwill only because I had fallen in love with the polka dots!  The gathering of the skirt is already completed so I only had to attach the sash (brown material from the other bedskirt I had found) and sew the pockets for the markers.  Markers, for a two-ear old?  Don't worry this toy will be hung high when not supervised by an adult.  I don't think I am ready for markered walls, furniture, floors or a markered child!  Here's little Miss Sadie with her new apron.   The aprons a little big for her now but that just means many years of fun and to think it only cost me $2.99 and a little bit of my time.

 I think she is rather pleased, don't you?

First Blog Post +Late Night + Baby = Tired Morning

     I think it is interesting that whenever I choose to go to bed way too late Tyler (my boy of 3 months now) seems to intuitively know and beckons me to his presence earlier than expected. This morning it was 5 a.m. instead of our agreed upon 6:30am! He has been doing wonderful overall sleeping most nights 9 hours (except last night of course). I on the other hand; do not get 9 hours, truth be known I may only be getting 6 or 7.....which some people thrive on but apparently I am not one of those people. I have just accepted being tired as part of my daily life the past couple of years but after having Tyler I experience way too many moments of fatigue.   I feel exhausted more than I should especially since Ty sleeps through the night and has done so since we got home from Thanksgiving.  My plan this year is to put a stop to my old habit/desire to stay up late until what I desire most is some beauty sleep.  How can I expect my kids to want to go to sleep if I don't want to?  They will only imitate my behavior and if I fight sleep, so will they but if I love it...ok, maybe they will still fight it, but at least they will know it's a good thing to go to bed and not a punishment.  I finally decided somethings got to change when fatigue would settle in on me after only being awake for two hours so out of desperation I picked up two books from the public library; Counting Sheep and A Womens Guide to a Good Nights Sleep.  Both of which have been really helpful.  I have learned a lot and am hoping my efforts make a difference in the coming months.  If not I will check myself into a sleep lab to be monitored like a rat.  So, there you have it. My first (and what I consider to be most important) New Year's resolution for 2011 is to get a good nights sleep, wake up one morning and exclaim, "That was awesome!" What are some of your New Year resolutions?   I'd love to know what's #1 on your list.
 

      I truly do want to 'sleep like a baby' especially this one.  He loves to sleep!

Once Upon a... Snowy Day!

     Greetings from Spokane, Washington.  It snowed throughout the night and for most of today.  Sadie and I enjoyed watching it fall from our big front window in the family room amid our piles of laundry we were folding.  This picture is living proof of how happy a change in weather; yes, even the cold snow, can make a little girl and her mommy!  Life is good.



     I have been contemplating for some time now whether I should begin to blog and I have finally decided on this the 12th of January in the year 2011 that I will take a giant leap into the world that fascinates me as well as scares me silly. The world I speak of is what many feel they can not live without; technology.  When it comes to computers I have never really understood or utilized the many capabilities available to me.  Gee's, it wasn't until I was a Jr. in college that I actually learned how to type with proper finger placement at the keyboard.  Shocked much?  I was amazingly fast for only using my pointer fingers.  So, as I navigate this new technology bare with me and please don't laugh too hard as I stumble along the way.  There's more to come, stay tuned!