A Couple Dresses And A Couple Mistakes

As I mentioned earlier I participated in KCWC at Elsie Marley. Although I wasn't able to sew an hour a day, I was able to sew a lot at once. Those were the days where I didn't get a shower or cook at all! Although I enjoyed it, I am a little tired of sewing!! I have some more projects cut out already (dresses for Ri) but I am needing a break.

I am sure you are asking, where are the mistakes? Well, I accidentally made the dress with the fabric upside down. And I also sewed the buttons on the bib dress crooked. Oh well, at least I got some finished!

P.S. I am still waiting for our memory card for the new camera! I cannot wait!

A New Family Member

Lastnight we added one more to the clan. Our new camera! I am beyond excited. We decided to go with the Canon EOS T1i (I have no idea if I said that right! ha!). Canon was the number 1,2 and 3 top rated camera on the consumer reports. I am very nervous to use it but hoping after a couple of clicks, I will be in the game!

We had been wanting one for a long time but as you know they are really expensive. Well, a couple of things came together which made it possible for us and I am thrilled! We even bought the extra 4 year warranty, just in case. With little ones around you never know, spilled sippy cups, grimmy hands and diaper blow outs! Could you imagine? Well, I am waiting for our memory card in the mail so I can't dig in just yet but by the end of this week I should be in business!

Starting today I am participating in Kids Clothes Week Challenge over at Elsie Marley. I am commiting to sewing an hour everyday during this week for my kiddos or my nieces and nephews. We will see what I come up with.

Last week my grandma came over and did a 1 hr tune up on my machine and the baby has never run so smoothly! She couldn't believe I had been sewing all this time with my machine running so rough. I just thought I couldn't sew a straight line, but after we changed my foot and oiled up the bad boy, I was in business!

I am going to tackle a fear of mine, KNITS! Just the thought of sewing a knit makes me start sweating, no joke! I tried to make a hat out of recycled t-shirts for Avery and just about lost it! But to be honest, I think it had a lot to do with my machine. So, I will try again! Wish me luck!

If you would like to join along, go over to Elsie Marleys blog and grab a button (btw, I cannot find where I add the button on my blog, any help?!?!). You can also add your pictures to her flickr page or just browse what others are doing for inspiration. Enjoy!

What Am I Wearing? Budget Edition!

I alway LOVE seeing what other people are wearing. Pleated Poppy does a post every Wednesday with pictures of herself and what she has been wearing all week! I love to tune in to what others are wearing. Lets get real, we all love to see and hear what others are doing in their lives. So I thought I would share what I am wearing today. Riley has a cold (whats new!) and my brother wants to come watch a movie with her (he has the day off). Have I mentioned that my brother is an amazing uncle? Well, he is! Anyway, so I am just going to have a lunch date with my two boys. These are purchases I got when I went shopping the other day. I don't think I did a post on this, but a couple of weeks back one of the Salvation Armys had all their jeans on sale for $1.00. Lets just say I bought 14 pairs. Lets just say this was a very exciting day for me! I am really trying to dress comfy but cute. It's possible right?!?! With a newborn at home, it must be possible! ENJOY!

P.S. I couldn't get a very good full length picture, we don't own a full length mirror except for Rileys vanity

So I Lied...But Not On Purpose Of Course!

Well, yesterday didn't exactly go as planned. Ohhh, I had a date, but not with myself. I had a date with my boyfriend, whose eyes are like blueberries, and when he smiles, his dimples make me melt. I even let him come into the dressing room with me while I tried on clothes. And then I thought, when he is 15, this will be very awkward, you know? Being in the dressing room with your mom and all. Avery was quite cranky right before I left so he came with me. But I didn't mind. He is the cutest thing ever and as soon as his eyes open from a rest, he is smiling.

Anyway, I got some new great things for this fall. I really enjoyed myself! When I got home, I hurried to get ready (I was in gym clothes and smelled really bad!) and went to the eye Dr. Where he proceeded to tell me that although my eyes look great, they are red and irritated from lack of sleep?! Really? You don't say? I look tired, which is another way of saying I look horrible. Thanks Doc.

When I got home, both kiddos were sleeping so I was able to cut into that wonderful vintage fabric that I bought last weekend. It was also the first time I was using my new peasant dress pattern. Which by the way is darling. 4 different dresses for the price of one pattern...awesome! I have made about 5 dresses for Riley in the past couple weeks and I am working on a post for the cost breakdown for them. A couple of them I have used designer fabric (which is easier to sew with!!) and the cost is still lower than a dress from Target!

P.S. Let me tell you a little secret...I dream about being a childrens clothing designer. But then I would never get any sleep because I would dream about all my ideas!
P.P.S I love the crockpot, I start dinner in the morning when I have the most energy and when I am pooped around 5:30...bam! Dinner is ready...nice...

We're Dating Again

This is one of the only pictures that I have of me ALONE. Which brings me to what I am doing today. I am going one a date by myself. I am going to do something I want to do, no errands, although it pains me to not go grocery shopping or take a trip to Costco. I was encouraged by this post. I absolutely loved that she went to a coffee shop twice in one day and also to a movie by herself!

First, I am taking the kids to the gym (About 2 1/2 weeks until my 5k!) then I am dropping the kids off at home with my FIL. I plan on getting my favorite coffee drink then browsing at Forever 21, with no rushing involved. (Unless my FIL calls that Avery needs to be fed). I am really looking forward to it! I am excited to think that I will come back refreshed, renewed and more importantly a better mommy!

Some Fabulous Weekend Finds!

After the craziness of DJ's birthday party (pictures to come!) Saturday morning I got a little time to go out for a fabric/rummage sale. It was a lot smaller than I had anticipated, which is probably a good thing. I was one of the first people there which means I got first pick on most of the vintage fabrics for $1.00/yard! I had a great time talking to the older ladies about where these fabrics have come from. I bought a peasant dress pattern for Riley off of Etsy and cannot wait to use some of these fabrics to make them! I love thinking about all the places these fabrics have been and think they will finally be used to clothe my pretty little girl! Hope you all had an amazing weekend

It's A Party!

Here is a little sneak peak at DJ's Movie themed birthday party tonight! Did I mention it's a sleep over? Yup, 7 boys! Good thing they are sleeping outside in a giant tent! Pray for my sanity =) Friends of ours let us use their BIG SCREEN projector for the viewing of the movie outside, it's going to be awesome, as DJ would say! I will post pictures after I get some much needed sleep!

Mommy.

Sometimes I sit and think,"I cannot believe I am a mommy!" I have been so incredibly blessed by my children. I love to see them grow (just not to fast). I am in love.

So Fresh and So Clean

We are ALMOST nearing the end of our major housing projects! I know I will always be decorating the house but these are projects only my husband can do, that is until I learn how to use his power tools! I have been a little dizzy since Avery was born (low iron levels) so I figure the power tools will have to wait until my levels are back up! Anyway, I painted every room in the entire house when we moved in but left the guest bath blank. I was way to overwhelmed to think about this room. I am so glad I waited because I was able to get what I really wanted. I started with towels, I needed something to give me a kick start. I knew I wanted it to be serene but not beachy (although, I love beachy, just not in this bathroom). We firsted painted it a grey color which turned out blue! Ugh..... then we decided to take the paint that we used in the kitchen and hall way and add a little black to it. We slapped a coat on the wall and VIOLA, perfection! I used almost everything I already in the decor cupboard, some got a revamp, others got a little spray paint. I made the soap despensers out of mason type jars from Michaels. I just used the pump from our old soap dispensers. And yes, I actually used my husbands drill myself. Thank you very much!

We used this tutorial for the mirror and it completely transformed the bathroom. She also did the laundry room that I am gaga over! In fact, Jim just framed our master bathroom yesterday which is waiting to get a brown coat of paint on it and a little shabby, which I will show you later. I put the design on the candle myself, great tutorial here and I love it!

Hope you enjoyed our bathroom reaveal!

Oh SO FUN!

Anyone remember a couple of posts back where I mentioned I went to a fabric sale?! Well, anyway, the hubs has been home for 4 days for the holiday weekend, so this means I had some extra time to sew and get my mojo back! I figured I could spend $50.00 on a couple of new items for Rileys winter wardrobe (that sounds so grown up doesn't it?! Especially for a 2 year old!) or spend that money on fabric and see what I could come up with. So far, I have made two pairs of ruffle pants and two dresses. Probably costing me a total of $12.00. How is that for exciting!

• For the blue and grey dress, I did not use a pattern, I simply traced one of Rileys dresses and made some modifications. I am obsessed with the gray and pink stripe fabric, so much that I had my grandma go back to the sale that day and pick up another half yard! The gray ruffle on the top is from an old t-shirt of mine that had paint splattered on it, woohoo for recycling!

The birdie dress is delicious! I used this tutorial but didn't follow the directions all the way. The only thing I would do differently next time is make the skirt fuller and the dress shorter. I didn't have enough fabric to do so. I definately want to make another one but this time use two different fabrics, one for the top and the other for the bottom. I also learned how to do a french seam, which is amazing if you don't have a serger (I have one, just don't know how to use it, ughhh!)

I am looking for a free peasant dress tutorial/pattern if anyone has one and would like to send it my way! Also I really want to make these for Riley in EVERY COLOR, but don't want to pay the 15.99 a yard, any seen ruffle fabric anywhere else?

Happy Birthday To My Little Big Guy!

Dear DJ,

It's so hard to believe that you turn 10 today! It seems like yesterday that I was watching you graduate Laura's Preschool and you were walking around with your miniature Tevas, just like your daddy. You've always wanted to be just like daddy! And you tell you the truth, you guys are starting to look a lot a like.

You have always been the tallest kid in your class. But you never brag about it, it's just something you are use to. You make friends easily and you always make me laugh. Like the time you came home and told me the "garden duty" was given out citations. I had to break the news to you that she is called a "yard duty."

From the moment your sister was born, you guys have been attached at the hip (same with our new addition Avery). I didn't know how well you would get a long with such a wide age gap but that has never bothered you. You are always so good with her; letting her play in your room, making forts for her and teaching her everything you know.

Even though I didn't give birth to you, I consider you my real son. You will always be the little boy who couldn't say his R's, wore Mickey Mouse pull-ups and loved to watch Spy Kids with me.

You were Rileys age when your Daddy and I started dating and I can't believe 7 1/2 years have passed. I can't wait for many more memories with you! Happy Birthday to my little big guy!

It's Fall Y'All!

Yes, cheesy title but it rhymed and I am tired =) Earlier in the week a great girlfriend of mine came over to do some crafting? I had my mind on doing some fall decor. Did I mention she has a little one like Avery? The funny thing was, we actually thought we were going to get some crafting done with newborns?! Haha, joke was on us! None the less, we had girl chat, fun talks about poopy diapers and lots of cuddles with our little boys (our toddlers were on "Daddy Dates")

Check soon for variations of the pillow and wreath in my new etsy shop, which will hopefully be up by the end of the weekend. Pending blow out diapers and a little girl potty training!

Whats your favorite part about fall?

Feeling Inspired Again

I had the pleasure of attending a huge fabric sale this past weekend. I wasn't really planning on purchasing a ton of fabric but when I got there, that all went out the window! Many designer fabrics at 40-50% off! I couldn't help but pick out some darling fabrics to make some clothes for Riley. I really have felt uninspired about sewing lately. Sewing is really a trial and error hobby and right now, I just need things to work the first time! Plus, I think my sewing machine may need a tune up!

I couldn't wait to get home and start creating some things for my little lady. First I made these pants, these are always my go-to clothing item for her. I absolutely love them!! All I needed was one successful sewing project to feel inspired again! Happy Wednesday!

P.S. I know Riley looks less than thrilled but she is still so cute!