My Tie Troubles.

So my brother is getting married on the 28th and Ike and I wanted to get Jackson a new white shirt and tie to wear to the wedding. The color we were going for was something in the maroon family. We thought that because it was Christmas time we would be able to find something right??? WRONG!!!! After hours ( and I do mean hooooouuuurrrsss) of shopping we found nothing in his size and especially nothing with a tie included. Lots of sweater vests and blue/black/grey/yellow/red shirts but no white shirts with ties! I did not want to spend $25 dollars on a little suit with a colored shirt when we wanted to use this for his church shirt too. So after re-bleaching his old white shirt for the millionth time I decided I would just have to make him a tie. I found a great tutorial here(http://helpinglittlehands.blogspot.com/2009/10/make-your-own-baby-ties-with-optional.html). When Ike and I first got married I went through his ties and separated some into an "unwearable" pile. These were ties that I felt were too stained, old, frayed or just too ugly to wear to church or work. I dug through the ties and found two that I thought would be salvageable. My first attempt produced this yellow tie:

Not bad for a first try right?


I liked this tutorial because the tie is actually in two pieces. The neck strap and the tie itself. You can adjust the length just like an adult tie depending on how you tie it.


Instead of using elastic like the tutorial shows, I did Velcro for my neck strap.

Overall I was pleased with the yellow tie but not completely satisfied. I did not like how narrow the tie is (in the tutorial you use the narrow end of the tie) so I decided to make another with a few changes. I picked a tie that was a little more narrow and I took it in a little more to make it even skinnier. Then I did the same steps but I used the regular end of the tie instead of the narrow end and I think the results are much better! I tied the tie a little long so I will need to go back and retie it a little shorter.






I think I would be fine if Jackson wore either of these ties to church and the silver one should work for my brother's wedding. I saw some toddler ties on amazon but they wanted around $22 for one tie. I made both of these for $0.00. CAN I GET AN AMEN?!!?! So yea, I feel pretty good about Jackson's tie situation now.

Baby Belly Update

So I think I am at the point where I look pregnant. At least that is what I am telling myself and it is helping me justify all the maternity clothes I wear. I wish all my pants had elastic waists. It is just so comfortable. I am out of my first Trimester and I have not felt sick in about two weeks. All I can say is, "FINALLY!!!!". I was never half as sick with Jackson as I have been with this baby and it is so nice to be able to stomach more than just oatmeal. Today I had chicken with buffalo sauce and it was amazing! If you had offered it to me a month ago I would have had to run to the bathroom just thinking about it. I am 14 weeks according to the ultrasound I had about a month ago. They put me a week behind what I thought I was according to the first day of my last period. The baby is about the size of a lemon. Still no movement. I am hoping for a smooth second trimester. With Jackson I started to get heart burn around this time so I am keeping an eye (throat?) out for that. We find out if we are having a boy or girl in February. The hardest thing lately is that I am so tired. I am constantly exhausted and I think I could sleep 14 hours a night and take a nap during the day if I could. Hopefully I'll get a burst of energy now that I am in my second trimester???



I assume my baby looks something like this right about now.

I JUST CAN'T STOP!!!

So I might be addicted to making these baby shoes. They are so cute and easy to make!!!! I do need to pick up some fuseable interfacing to make them stiffer and I need to work on being more careful when I sew around the toes so that it can have a nicer curve. This pair I was too sloppy and you can tell. Other than that I think they are ADORABLE!!!!!!!

Craftastic!

So I have been in a pretty crafty mood lately but I haven't had a ton of money to spend on random supplies to I have been using whatever I have at home. I still have a few things I need to sew before I leave for Christmas but this is just what I have done in the last week.

Fur hat! I took a tweed-ish blazer that someone had given me in a box of clothes and an old fur wrap to make this hat. The hat is fur lined with pink buttons holding the ear flaps up and a pink crochet flower for prettiness. This hat didn't turn out as good as I was hoping. I have never worked with real animal hide before and I have discovered that it is my mortal enemy. I broke way too many needles making this hat. The tweed is a little crooked in the front too. Overall its turned out OK.


Please ignore how crazy I look in this picture. It was late at night when I finished the hat and I really should have waited until the next day to model it and take pictures.


I found a free pattern online for some baby shoes and I made two different pairs. The first pair is the one with the button closure but I thought they looked like elf shoes so I modified the pattern a little and that is how the purple ones came to be.




I like this pair so much better than the other ones.

Finally my favorite thing I made this week was this headband!



I got the idea from this Etsy seller: http://www.etsy.com/listing/59639601/comic-book-headband-pow-peacock-green?ref=sr_gallery_12&ga_search_query=pow+headband&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_category=accessories.hair&ga_facet=
But I actually like my version better and mine is free!! She charges $23 for hers.



So overall I feel that my week has been very productive in the craft arena. In the housekeeping arena, not so much.

He sees you when you're sleeping...He knows when you're awake...

So I can understand how Santa can be terrifying to little kids. Jackson had literally never seen any human being that looked even remotely like Santa in his life. I wouldn't be surprised if he thought Santa was some red, silky bearded animal or something. Jackson saw Santa for the first time about a week ago and the minute I tried to sit him on Santa's lap, he freaked out. I haven't seen him that scared in a long time. He managed to sit for a picture with me kneeling next to Santa and him on my lap. Maybe next year.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Today we got our first snow! Besides the fact that no one plows the roads in Fullerton and we are practically stranded here until they do, we are having a great time! Jackson and I went outside today and he got to experience his first real snow. He loved it! He actually cried when I took him in the house. We also built his first snowman(More like I built it while he kept trying to knock it down). It finally really feels like Christmas! What is Christmas with no snow???

Jackson discovers snow.


Our first snowman.

T-24 Days until Christmas!!!!

CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So Christmas is amazing for tons of reasons: Celebrating the Birth of The Savior, spending time with family, the joy of giving gifts, setting up decorations and eating eating eating until you feel 5 months pregnant. Its all just awesome! In my family growing up we always made Christmas lists sometime around October. That way whoever was getting our gifts for us had a general idea of what we wanted. No one had to get you something on your list, it was just a jumping off point. It is always fun when making a list to put on a few things that you know you would never get but it is nice to see them on paper anyway.(My mom still asks for a pony.) I made and posted my Christmas list on facebook a while ago but I wanted to put up my top three "probably won't get but still want them" things for Christmas.

1. Bernina 350PE Sewing Machine

GAHHHH!!!!! It is like looking at the sun because it is so beautiful. Not only does this machine have more stitch functions than I could ever use but it has the most beautiful automatic buttonhole foot I have ever seen. Too bad it costs around $3000. This machine will probably stay on my list for a few more years until the next best model comes out.

2. An Automatic Car

It doesn't have to be this exact car. I just want an automatic car that seats around 7 people. We will have to get one eventually when we have too many kids to fit in our Volkswagen Golf. I just hate that we have a stick shift. I know I need to learn to drive it but I just don't like it!!!! I would so much rather just get an automatic. At least I know we will get one eventually.

3. A Dream House!

So I am kind of obsessed with older houses with front porches. We probably won't buy a house for another 4-5 years but when we do I really really really really really want a front porch. We will probably buy a fixer-upper. (Remember the house in It's a Wonderful Life? That is what we are looking for.) Like the car I know that we will buy a house eventually but not this year and definitely not new.

So there you have it. Three things on my list that Santa will not be putting under my tree this year but I will continue to ask for every year until I either have them or I am dead. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! What do you guys want that you probably won't get but you still like to ask for?

Me with Santa when I was 5 or 6.

Lazin' Around the Christmas Tree

Nothing says "The Holidays" to me like wearing a bathrobe 24/7. We set up our Christmas tree on Saturday and it really makes me feel like Christmas is here.

Bun in the Oven!

And no I do not mean delicious cinnamon buns...although those do sound yummy. Ike and I are on our way from growing from a family of three to a family of four. We had an ultrasound and they even printed out a picture of the little guy...or girl. He was a dancing machine while they were doing the ultrasound so I think that this child must take after Ike seeing as he has all the moves.

Hey little baby!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Some people say less is more. But I say More is More! Especially when Holiday food is involved. Ike and I stayed home this year so it was just us and Jackson at our table but I made enough food for about 8 fat adults. Why? LEFT-OVERS!!!! I want to be eating this dinner for another week. Overall the entire meal was a complete success. I have never had a moister (is that a word?) turkey. I am officially a convert to the Turkey Brine. I will forever brine my turkeys from this day forth. Jackson ate nothing but pumpkin pie and Jello (which turned out lovely by the way) which usually I would not be OK with but hey, it's Thanksgiving!!! How else can I consume 10,000 calories in one meal and not feel like shooting myself in the face? The only thing that would have made this Thanksgiving better would have been if we could have spent it with some family. Next year we will be in Vermont and I am already counting down the days.

I believe the words you are looking for are, "HOLY CRAPOLA! THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL BIRD!".

See the Jello in the background? So pretty delicious!

Hot Hot Hat

So I was playing with some extra yarn yesterday and I came up with this cute baby hat. I don't have a daughter but hopefully I will have one someday and when she is born she can wear this adorable hat.


The bear models the hat nicely, no?

Winter Travel, Nebraska Style.

The weather is cold now and that means we bundle up when we leave our house.

Step 1. The Telly Tubby-esc fleece jump suit. Easily worn over long sleeved shirt and jeans.


Step 2. The Heavy Duty winter coat. (Best if supplied by Grandma to reduce over all costs.)


Step 3. Add beanie and activate mitten hands ( A nice feature of the Telly Tubby suit.)


Step 4. Place in Stroller and add 2 or more blankets. Tuck in the feet.


Now You are ready to leave your house. Another option that will come in handy in a month or two will be adding a layer of snow pants between steps 1 and 2.

For the Adults, thermal underwear will soon be more of a priority than food.

Talk TurkeyTo Me, Baby!

Is anyone else counting down the days until Thanksgiving?!? So here is my tentative turkey day menu:

1. Brined and Roasted Turkey (recipe from marthastewart.com)
2. Traditional Mashed Potatos (We're talking butter, salt, more butter and maybe some sour cream.)
3. Green Bean Casserole
4. Turkey Stuffing
5. Roasted Carrots (Roasted in the pan with the turkey)
6. Homemade Dinner Rolls
7. Jello Salad (Jello,fruit and whipped cream in a jello mold to add prettiness to my table.)
8. Pumpkin Pie for desert.

The biggest challenge I have here is that I want to do this whole dinner for $25 or less. I already have a lot of the ingredients I will need and I am making everything I can from scratch. I think I can do it! I will let you all know if I stay in my budget!!!

I have only done two other turkey dinners in the past and one of them gave me horrible food poisoning for two days. My success rate is not great. Pray for me.

This will not be me!

My Family Is So Cute!

This was just a cute scene in my living room the other night. Ike wasn't feeling good so he had the bed couch pulled out and was watching a movie and Jackson wanted in on the action.

Just too cute.

Little Big Man

Jackson is growing up. One of Ike's coworkers gave us a really good (like practically free) deal on a toddler bed.



We only had one crib sheet (I know we should have more but I always just washed the one he had when he wasn't sleeping in it.) so I took a twin top sheet that we don't use and made a new crib fitted sheet and even had enough fabric left for a pillowcase.



So today for the first time Jackson took his nap in his new bed. I actually had to wake him up because he was on his way to taking a three hour nap.



Where has the time gone? How is Jackson already 18 months? How am I going to be 24 on my next birthday? Time apparently flies when you are tired and stressed from raising a very active toddler.

These are a Few of My Favorite Things!

Today I feel like writing about the things I love most. I am focusing on THINGS and not people. Obviously my awesome husband and baby would top the list of favorite people but today its all about the material things.

1. Frito Pies!
It might just be because I had one for Lunch and Dinner or it might be because they are amazing but either way I love frito pies. Whats not to like? The chips, cheese, chilli, sour cream...just thinking about them makes me want to have a third bowl...can my stomach take it? I guess I will have to find out.


2. Bathrobes.
Nothing says warm and comfy like a bathrobe...except maybe a snuggy but bathrobes are way more classy. Bathrobes have a special place in my heart, especially ones made by my mother.


3. JoAnn Fabrics. My favorite store. I could spend hours and hours just looking at everything. This store literally has everything I want in it. (Christmas is coming....just saying.) I would be willing to push over an old lady to get in there when patterns are on sale for $.99! Who can resist the 40%off coupons? Jo Ann is like my very expensive and money sucking best friend.


4. Young Adult Fiction.
Yes I have a weak spot for Jacob black and Harry Potter but cut me some slack. Is it so bad if I don't want to read this week's New York Time's best seller and would rather curl up to a juicy teenage thriller? Pulitzer...schmulitzer, I have Twilight.


5. Crafting.
Who doesn't love making something out of nothing. Sometimes as a stay at home mom it is pretty easy to feel like I am not doing anything with my life (I know its not true don't worry!) but making some kind of pretty craft I can display in my home always makes me feel good and worth while.


I do like more things than just what is on this list but these were at the forefront of my mind today.

Harry Halloween!

Happy Halloween!


So I recycled Jackson's costume from last year because the one I made for this year looked stupid. Luckily, I must have sewed last year's costume way too big because it fit him perfectly this time around!



He had the glasses but he did not like to wear them. I guess I wouldn't want to wear felt strapped to my face either so I can't blame him.