Three in the nest

Before and Afters

2012-02-28T10:54:00.000-08:00

Before: A boy's room for 1

{I don't have pictures of the room when it was just a toddler bed, but this picture shows the wall color and space before its metamorphosis}

After: A girly room for 2

Before: A girly room for twin A

{again, she wasn't sleeping in a crib until the room trade, but it was a toddler bed, these are just the last pictures I had taken of the rooms}

After: A boy room for twin B

The girls love sharing a room (although it takes longer for them to fall alseep at night) and Sam loves his big-boy room! Matt and I love that all the toys are in the playroom (pictures to come of that space, which was Caroline's room).

hobbies and fans

2012-02-21T09:01:00.003-08:00

I have always had more hobbies than time. I love to sew, paint, cook, bake, read, ~~watch soaps~~, watch intellectual documentaries, and get my hands into just about anything besides housework. Once I picked up sewing again, my friends would see what I was making and egged me on to start selling. I thought they were sort of crazy...but I kept sewing.

Along the way, I've learned about "good fabric" and "good thread" and what makes patterns "work". My sweet, loyal friends kept telling me to sell what I make. I tried an etsy page but sort of chickened out...but I kept sewing.

I've been watching what other sewers have been doing to make a business from their hobby and in the meantime have set up a little page on facebook...and I've kept sewing. I love sewing for my own little people and am over joyed that I get the privledge to sew for someone else's sweet little ones.

I am so thankful for friends who cheer me on crazy ventures and have spread that word. I am more than just a little blessed (and if you think I might just be talking about you, than you can be sure that I am!).

Yep. These outfits are for sale ;)

My Funny Valentines

2012-02-16T15:44:00.002-08:00

Every now and then you catch your kids at their perfectly cutest moment...

and then sometimes you catch them at their funniest...

but if you are their parent, you always think you caught them at their sweetest

{digging the ruffled capris? check out three in the nest on facebook...we're open for business}

the shameless plug is now over...back to cuteness

speaking of cuteness, check out Caroline and one of her BFFs, Brett...he is every bit as handsome on the inside as he is on the outside...we LOVE us some Brett

with people like this, Valentine's Day was bound to be a good one!

Chalk cloth Place mats

2012-02-09T12:57:00.000-08:00

Do you know about chalk cloth? Its a thick material that you can write on and wipe off just like a chalkboard. Doesn't that just scream "KID PLACE MATS" to you?!

Finding it at a good price can be tricky, but I have got a source for you. In fact, Allison of Tipsy Star Quilts has a whole kit based on these very place mats!

Now that you've ordered your kit (you did order your kit didn't you?), let us get started!

Here is what you need

Chalk cloth (in your kit)

fabric for the back of the place mat and bias tape (in your kit)

Spray adhesive (optional but helpful)

rotary cutter or scissors

ruler

paper to make a template from (optional)

Cut your fabric and chalk cloth into a 17" x 20" rectangle. I initially didn't round my corners, but because you of the thickness of the chalk cloth you cannot bind like you do with quilts. Rounded corners make it so that you have no mitering of corners to monkey with and the binding is much easier to get just right.

How do you round corners? I placed a coffee mug in each corner of the rectangle and cut around the mug. Easy!

The picture below shows straight corners and fabric used as the bias tape. I like the use of the matching fabric, but wasn't pleased with the corners. Stick with me kid, I fixed it up!

You will want to "prime" your chalk cloth. Rub the side of a piece of chalk all over the surface. Erase and voila! Primed surface!

Below you will see the I stripped my place mats of the bias tape I had made, rounded my corners, re-sprayed my adhesive, and applied store-bought binding (because after all of the fiddling, my fabric for the binding wasn't quite as pretty, I still prefer matched bias tape).

See? Rounded corners are the way to go here!

Certainly there are better tutorials out there, but take solace in the fact that I worked out all the bugs for you along the way! Allison has four fabric options in her kits and they are specially priced for viewers of the very blog!

Send me a picture of YOUR finished project (not needing place mats? make a table runner!).

Emma and the Whale

2012-02-08T07:03:00.000-08:00

I fell in love {BIG LOVE} with this whale fabric! I have been sewing my heart out with it!

I made capris and a matching shirt for the Miss Priss

and a dress for her big sister (who is slaving away at school, so we pinned it to fit for a quick picture)...

The fabric came from

and they have TONS of fun prints and so many that the girls want to have something made from! I also loved that the fabric arrived just three days after I placed my order!

The pattern for the capri pants (which are so much cuter in person) came from

who has not only some awesome fabric, but lots and LOTS of patterns! Megan, the Fabric Fairy, is quick when it comes to emailing the patterns, so if you already have your fabric you can be sewing in no time! Her shop it one of the sweetest on the web!

and if you are looking for a place to order the sweetest little clothes for the sweet chicks in your nest, stay tuned...I might just have a place lined up for you in the Spring!

Patterns Only

2012-02-06T13:51:00.000-08:00

I can spend hours pouring over fabric sites and lately patterns are my new focus. There are so many alternatives to the old fashioned brown-tissue-paper-patterns that you used to buy at Walmart or the craft stores. Now days, patterns are generally pdf files that you print right at home. They are fresh, modern, and so much easier to sew than those old fashioned ones. While I used to use etsy to find great patterns, I now can find most of those etsy pattern makers all in one place, Patterns Only. Louise is the genius behind Patterns Only and she has organized them so you can quickly find exactly what you are looking for. I also love that she carries Jennifer Paganelli and Carla Crim patterns!

I was really eyeing the Dana Top for awhile and sure enough, Louise had it.

Here is the cover...

and my version...

Such a fun top to make and EASY!

Visit Louise at Patterns Only. She is currently having a 10% off sale (hurry, it ends on Sunday).

Also, Louise is offering a sweet deal for the readers of this lil 'ol blog...Buy 3 PDfs and get a 4th FREE ( to equal or lesser value) Just leave a comment at checkout with the PDF you would like for FREE!!!

Dance Class=Scooter Time

2012-02-06T09:21:00.000-08:00

What do you do when you have an hour to kill waiting for your big sister to take a dance class and it is 60 degrees outside in February?

You have your Mommy pack your scooter!

February? I'll take it!

I do declare, Happy Birthday Chris!

2012-01-30T15:55:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Chris!

You are a rare treasure and a valued companion on the motherhood journey.

I adore your sense of humor, sense of fun, and laid-back ease.

I love that I can tell you anything. I love that our families love each other. I love that we can talk three times a day or three times a month and it just picks right back up.

I can be serious around you and GOODNESS knows...

I can be a little nutty and you love me anyway!

Happy Birthday Friend!

Pintrest: where I stand and why I've never been popular

2012-01-28T06:09:00.000-08:00

Very often in life, I've not been popular. I don't just mean popular as being in the "cool"crowd (I wasn't that either) but popular as in going with the majority. For instance, I don't like seafood. Growing up on the beach, that wasn't the norm. Not popular. I cried when my daughter started Kindergarten while other moms were high-fiving each other. My tears were not popular. I don't watch Glee, The Bachelor, or any major sporting event. Definitely NOT popular with the majority of women or my husband.

The other big thing that I just can't "get" is Pintrest. There, OK, I said it. I don't like Pintrest. I've got an account. I've got a few board with a few things pinned and every day I get a few new followers (I'm sure it isn't long before they are disappointed!). Correct me if I am mistaken, but I think Pintrest is an online bulletin board where you "pin" things you like and others can borrow your idea. Is that it? I hear people talking about losing hours to Pintrest. I must be missing something. I know friends who get great ideas for birthday parties (and actually use them) and decorating ideas that are inexpensive for their homes. Again, I am missing something. My problem isn't inspiration, which I guess Pintrest is for, but time implementing all the things I already know I want to do. So there. I said it.

Millions of people love Pintrest and then there is me (although, in looking for Pintrest statistics, I found a survey where 3% of people polled don't just dislike it, but HATE it. interesting.)

Londa's Creative Threads

2012-01-26T05:39:00.000-08:00

Oh boy! Do you know Londa? I bumped into her shop and scooped up some deals! She carries patterns, books, needles, scissors, patterns, cutting mats, thread, rotary cutters, and almost everything you might need. Her prices are much cheaper than my local big-box craft store and she carries some high-end supplies that you can't find anywhere else (and certainly if you do, you won't find them for these prices!). Look at my haul...

universal needles $2.28

elsewhere over $3.50

THESE-ARE-ONLY-FOR-FABRIC Scissors (that's what I named them)

Kai Scissors under $25

elsewhere on the web I've seen them for over $37!

{these are awesome. I've only had them for a few days, but wow! they make me want to put away my rotary cutter!}

Sew What You Love by Tanya Whelan

This book has 30 projects and patterns and it is awesome!

Londa sells this book for over $5 under list price as well as many, many other books!

Visit Londa. Visit her NOW because she is offering FREE SHIPPING (case sensitive code, luvfreeship) until Jan 31! Visit her because she creates her own line of EASY and SIMPLE patterns (I got my hands on one and can't wait to try it). Visit her because she supports some beautiful charities. Visit her because you love her blog....just visit her!

feeding the ducks

2012-01-25T07:57:00.000-08:00

I had after school plans. The kind where the kids played nicely upstairs while I cleaned three bathrooms, folded two loads of laundry, and made a nice dinner. Instead we joined friends at the lake to feed ducks and I served up leftovers. Somedays are like that.

After a few rainy, dreary days, this was just what we needed.

crazy love

2012-01-19T18:06:00.001-08:00

every print you see on this blog is from Jennifer Paganelli's new line of fabric, CRAZY LOVE...I can't WAIT for it to come out!

Gymnastics and other cute things

2012-01-19T07:15:00.000-08:00

Sam and Emma Kate have asked to take gymnastics and we enrolled them in once a week lessons last week. They loved it! The teachers are wonderful and they had a blast.

When Caroline heard us talking about getting them enrolled, she asked if she could do it too. We have offered it to her in the past and she has always turned us down, but since she brought it up, we thought we'd give it a chance.

SHE LOVED IT!

Look at the face....she had that smile on her sweet little face for the entire hour!

While Caroline had her lesson, Mario practiced.

Here he is with the mushroom that made him grow.

Here he is after bumping into a turtle and shrinking.

Here is is with firepower throwing fire balls.

Gymnastics was a treat. I adore watching and seeing them have such fun!

School is also going well. I was a little concerned that after Christmas break they would have difficulty transitioning to going back, but they were ready.

oohh, I could pinch her.

and them

seriously...pinch them

aren't I lucky that my kids love to have their pictures made?

look at her smiling on cue!

oh! spoke too soon...

looks like "game over" for Mario

Charming

2012-01-15T14:03:00.000-08:00

I have been drooling over this pattern for a while. I love bags and rarely make them. I love clutch purses and rarely buy them. I love Amy Butler fabric and patterns and happen to have lots of each.

This clutch was surprisingly easy to make, quick to assemble, and cuter than I imagined. It is sturdy thanks to lots of interfacing and layers. It closes at the top with two almost invisible magnets and it is roomy! It honestly fits every bit as much as my regular purse (magazine, wallet, candy, granola bar, and 17 lipsticks).

Teri at buy design fabrics has all of your Amy Butler love covered. She carries the thread (hard to find and never at these prices!), fabric, and patterns. I also love that she ships immediately to you as instant gratification is my middle name. She also carries the Sari fabric that is used on the cover of the pattern.

Here is the clutch I made.

see? BIG, no?

You want this purse don't you? Go ahead, tell me all about how you want this little purse.

No. Seriously. Tell me and I will send it to you. One lucky duck winner will get this very clutch next week.

Also, Teri is venturing into handmade cutie pie things like crochet hats and slippers....do visit her...she is creative and crafty!

You might be Mario if...

2012-01-08T13:01:00.000-08:00

buckle yourself into your car seat and exclaim, "wow! that was a hard level!"

walk through a set of doors and say " well, I guess I am about to fight the dragon"

worry about the fate of Princess Peach

ask Mommy about every flag you see on the way to preschool and wonder if you could slide down the flag pole

hear fast music and assume it means you are invincible

use the phrase, "pizza dough" to mean "let's go!"

are concerned that if you wear green everyone will think you are Luigi

I love you Mario!

2012

2012-01-06T06:56:00.000-08:00

This blog has been neglected. My sewing room, laundry pile, kitchen floors, and bathrooms have also taken a backseat to life...December was BUSY. In fact, I think it was almost too busy to really enjoy. I think that if we aren't careful, we can easily get consumed with obligations and the true meaning of advent and CHRISTmas go by the wayside.

We had a wonderful Christmas though and were able to see both sides of the family a couple of times. We went to see Matt's Wolfpack in the bowl game with our sweet friends. We were able to have some get-togethers with other wonderful friends and we enjoyed the week after Christmas while Matt was off work.

After all of this celebrating, we jumped into 2012 and I don't mean tip toe, we hopped in head first! I've been able to volunteer in Caroline's class and the twins have already had a play date. As a family, we are working on a few resolutions and are off to a good start (better, more involved behavior at Church, trying a new recipe each week, working out at least 3-4 days per week, and keeping our rooms more organized).

Here are a few December pictures that never made it to this blog:

Happy New Year!

If you are interested in the meals we've had or are having this week, click on the day below

Monday

Tuesday

(I made my mother-in-law's recipe but this is similar. I'll post soon!)

Wednesday

Thursday (leftover sour cream noodle bake. yes, great second time around)

Friday

Reminder

2011-12-14T16:09:00.000-08:00

Just a quick reminder that for a few more days, Jean at Pumpkinvine Corner is giving my blog readers a discount on Aurifil thread. To ensure that you get the discount, make sure you enter the word, "nest" in the customer comment section during checkout.

The Meaning of Christmas

2011-12-13T12:16:00.000-08:00

When you are a kid and hear adults talk about the REAL meaning of Christmas, you can't imagine that you'll ever feel that way. I remember hearing my mom say that seeing us open our gifts was more fun for her than getting any of her own and I thought she was nuts. Slowly though, it sinks in as you grow and mature. Christmas IS so much more than gifts. This year, Matthew and I have made a point of having the kids help us pick out gifts for others so they get a sense of the giving part of Christmas.

I think its starting to make an impression as on our last trip to Target, Emma Kate asked who could she buy a gift for this time without asking to look at anything for herself. We keep reiterating that giving gifts and good friends are much more important than opening a new toy.

We've been blessed with some really, really great friends. The kind who call you and check on you when you are sick. The kind who drop everything and bring you a treat at your door when you've had a busy month. The kind who don't get upset if you don't return their call right away.

No doubt friends like this are a gift!

We did a little Christmassing with some of these really, really good friends. Our kids love their kids, we love them, and everyone gets along beautifully.

It was a treat to get together, share a wonderful meal, give a few gifts, and visit.

Mimi

2011-12-05T17:12:00.000-08:00

My Grandmother, Mimi (who the kids call, "Gigi") has been reading my blog. I love that she has been able to get onto her computer, although I wish she was close enough to pop over in person. I love this picture of Mimi and Papa with the kids.

Hi Mimi, we love you!

Emmy Clutch

2011-12-05T07:07:00.000-08:00

Making a clutch or zippered pouch is the perfect project because it uses very little fabric and is made quickly enough to provide instant gratification. This pattern, the Emmy clutch, is so much fun to sew from. It is easy but still has features to make it custom and unique. I love the gussets at the bottom, which make it sturdy, as well the the technique used with the zipper (honestly, if you only buy the pattern to learn her zipper technique, you'll be doing yourself a HUGE favor) make this bag the perfect project for a beginner or anyone who loves to sew. These are the perfect size for an evening out, but I love to keep mine in my purse to keep me organized.

The pattern came from the etsy shop paisley pear and believe me, there are several cute ones to choose from, although Michelle's patterns are 3 for $18, so you can try them all!

Michelle also has a cute blog with giveaways, freebie patterns, tutorials, and other goodies. Visit her!

When I first started sewing zippered pouches and purses, I was getting my zippers at Joann's Fabrics. Not only was this not convenient because I don't live all that close to Joann's but it proved to be expensive with zippers being between $2 and $3 a piece. Searching on etsy, I found Irina of k and C supplies. You can get a boatload of zippers for under $10! I got a bundle of 25 zippers that are 7 inches in length for $9! You can also contact her about variety packs and choosing colors.

Pumpkinvine

2011-12-04T12:07:00.000-08:00

There are a lot of instances in life where buying cheap or generic saves you money but there are times where quality matters. I didn't know that thread was one of those instances...but oh-boy, is it! Aurifil thread is my new favorite. It is silky, doesn't break as you are sewing, threads through a needle easier, but best of all, doesn't make a lint mess in your machine. I clean my machine and re-oil every 3-5 full bobbins and the lint that accumulates is an oddity. Since switching from "cheap" thread (the kind you get at your craft shop or superstore) to Aurifil, I am amazed at how much quieter and cleaner my machine has been! Also, the nerd in me did a quick cost tally and found that Aurifil is actually less expensive or the same price as what you get at your bargain craft shop! For a spool of your basic thread that is 400 yards, you will spend about $2.50-$3.00. For a large cone of Aurifil that has 1422 yards Pumpkinvine Corner sells it for $8.39....BUT if you use the code "nest" at cheackout, Jean will reconfigure the price of the spools to be $7.99 {offer good through 12/31 so hurry and stock up}!

{Pumpkinvine doesn't just offer thread, oh-no! You will find patterns, books, stencils, and some of the cutest decorative wire hangers. }

also...here is a great video on cleaning and oiling your machine

My Favorite Dress

2011-12-03T04:57:00.000-08:00

I am one of the people who gets more than a little upset to see stores display Christmas decorations before Halloween. I refuse to even think about Christmas before I celebrate thanksgiving. So why am I showing you the Easter dresses I made the girls? So you can grab the pattern and make a few too! Make some out of corduroy for Christmas or a sweet girly pattern for Valentine's Day...

By now, I've sewn several dresses for the girls and have had great luck with the patterns I've used and outcomes I've had, but this one is by far my favorite to date. The girls kept me company as I sewed this one by playing Barbie's and putting on a Taylor Swift knock-off concert for me as I worked, surely this added to my love of this dress.

The pattern came from Lily Bird Studio

Cecilia of Lily Bird Studio makes some of the neatest patterns. They are easy to follow and she gives attention to detail. This particular dress has you making piping, which I have never attempted, but her pattern gives step-by-step instructions with color photographs. Although I love the patterns I am seeing all over etsy and online, Cecilia's are unique and not at all "cookie cutter" versions of dresses you see everywhere.

The fabric? You know it is Jennifer Paganelli, right? Still love her!

The cute prints came from

Becky carries great fabrics! She has several of Jennifer Paganelli prints for under $7 a yard as well as many other great designers at super low prices.

Just in case you aren't a seamstress and have no intention of making perfectly adorable clothing yourself, Becky has a shop of hand made pieces in her shop, Granny B's Clothesline. From pillowcase dresses to sweet baby gifts, monogrammed goodies to birthday tee-shirts (I am drooling over these...can't you see these for a photoshoot?) , Becky's boutique is just precious!

What a difference a year makes...

2011-11-29T15:23:00.000-08:00

Nonna and Papa's House Thanksgiving 2010...

Nonna and Papa's House Thanksgiving 2011...

Can somebody please tell me how to get them to stop growing?

Cloud Watching

2011-11-28T06:11:00.000-08:00

Not sure if he is in a football pose or why the tough-guy faces, but this was a cute glimpse into their world. The backyard, which is right outside my kitchen window, is the kid's favorite place to be right now with our ~~terrible, way-to-warm~~ unseasonably warm weather. I had the back door open and could hear them talking. When I overheard them describing the shapes of clouds, I had to snap a picture, which disrupted everything. I love to hear them chit-chatting and love to catch them interacting aside from Matt and I.

Small Business Saturday

2011-11-26T11:50:00.000-08:00

If you are looking to load up on super cute fabric and have lots of little projects in mind, get on over to Stitch Simple. Not only does the owner, Jen Madsen of Stitch Simple, prewash all of the fabric that she sells, but her prices are fantastic. In fact, you can score some FREE fabrics! She is currently selling celebrity fat quarter packs (lil 'ol me handpicked the prints you see above...that's right! 11 fat quarters for $25!) which are all originally priced between $30 and $35, but are only $25 right now and with the small business Saturday deal from American Express, these packs can be FREE!

HURRY though because these deals are available only until Midnight CST Friday December 2nd. These Small Business Saturday* specials are perfect for holiday sewing projects, stash building and gifting as-is to fellow crafters.

Carson Ruffle Shirt

2011-11-22T04:56:00.000-08:00

I am having a blast sewing for the girls and getting excited about all of the Christmasy things I can make them to wear. When I got this damask print (way back in August) I knew that I wanted to make the girls something fun and this ruffle shirt pattern was perfect!

The fabric came from Pam's Crafting Place. She has some unbelievable deals right now (I am in love with the toile in her sale section for only $4.99 a yard, which would make a very cute ruffle shirt!).

This pattern is one more my current favorites. It is the Carson Ruffle Shirt from

Mindy's patterns are beautiful. Each page of the PDF pattern is lovely to look at, easy to follow, and well explained. I also appreciate that her patterns are not "cookie cutter" versions of every other pattern out there. This ruffle shirt uses very little fabric (I made two shirts less than 3 yards).

Don't want to sew your own? Check my shop later today...I might just have one or two in there...

Grand Opening

2011-11-18T07:03:00.000-08:00

***update***

the code (grandopening) wasn't working but now is up and running.

also, I am not meant to be in business. the love and support my in-real-life friends have shown my little business is overwhelming and makes my heart swell, but also makes me feel guilty! I just want to give it all away to you!

I LOVE to sew and love to blog about sewing but I can only use to many purses, pouches, and trinkets. See something you want on this blog? Walk your shopping fingers on over to my new etsy shop where I am putting a few overflow blog models up for sale.

Not everything I make and show on the blog will make it to the shop...some pattern makers prefer you not use their patterns for commercial sales and I will honor that. Some allow it in small quantities as will always be the case (three kids, two dogs, one husband...there simply isn't enough time to sew in large quantities!). The more I sell and move out of here, the more fabric I can buy!

Grand Opening Special:

Free shipping (no code needed)

20% off with code: GRANDOPENING

Sweet Caroline

2011-11-17T16:08:00.000-08:00

I am pretty sure that this is the little baby I used to swaddle (until she was 9 months old, thank-you-very-much) but with each day, she is resembling that bundle less and less. She is SUCH a big girl! I am not sure how much longer she will get joy from the clothes I make her or the shapes I applique but I am going to keep making them while she does.

Cute? Yeah, she's got that covered.

The fabric is called Just Dreamy by Riley Blake. I love the polka dots and there are many coordinating fabrics in this line...really great for kids! You can find it where I did...

They have TONS of great prints and a HUGE selection of sale fabrics (seriously, some are as low as $3.50 a yard!). They are the nicest of nice, ship quickly, wrap it up beautifully, and send a confirmation email so you know when it is coming.

This pattern was one of the easiest EVER! I know I say that with almost everything I sew, but this was one piece. Let me say that again, THE ENTIRE SHIRT WAS ONE PIECE! All you have to do is print and assemble the pattern, cut it out, and trim with bias tape. I think it fits adorably! The sky is the limit with how these shirts can be decorated!

Caroline (the designer, not the daughter) has lots of one piece patterns and I can't wait to try more of them!

Psst...guess what? When I spoke with Caroline (again, designer not daughter) about this shirt and how much I loved it, she said that I can give a copy of this pattern away! This is perfect if you are thinking about trying to get into sewing or if you just really love a quick and easy project. Entering is simple...

* visit Caroline's Sweet Blog

*Like her on Facebook

*Visit her shop and tell me which pattern you like best

each gets you an entry, just leave me a comment and let me know

Winner announced in a week...fingers crossed for you!

Punkin' Patch

2011-11-16T17:29:00.000-08:00

Fall means crisp air, hot chocolate, picking pumpkins, and visiting the pumpkin farm with friends. A couple a weeks ago we got all of this and more as we celebrated our friend Zachary's birthday.

I didn't get tons of pictures of the group or all of the friends we had there, but Jenn did...visit her blog. Yeah, she's pretty awesome.

Leaves and Pillowcase Dresses

2011-11-16T04:41:00.000-08:00

The giant tree in our front yard with its giant leaves make autumn fun. The leaves pile up and crunch beneath the kid's feet and they love being outside playing in them. It made for a great bribe to get a few pictures of the new dresses I made up for the girls.

lip gloss and blush were also part of the bribe...these girls are tough

do you spy with your little eye my little guy?

Pillowcase dresses are everywhere and I had idea whether or not they'd be hard to make or not, but I have wanted to make them for a long time...now I wish I wouldn't have waited so long! I literally made these two dresses in an afternoon. There are many patterns out there for pillowcase dresses and I've read through many of them but Pink Poodle Bow makes a really easy to follow one and I love the results.

This dress is the Kaylee dress. There are many more I am wanting to try out, especially the Reese, the Grace, and the Hailey...wow! PDF sewing patterns can be a little pricy but these patterns are 2 for $10! There are a huge range of sizes and some really cute baby rompers. Alisha knows cute!

The fabric was chosen by Caroline (seriously, you had to know that, right?) and is soft, thick, and easy to sew with. I was online fabric shopping and was on Poppy Seed Fabric's site and Caroline asked if she could pick some out. Since I am hoping to get her hooked on fabric hoarding and eventually sewing, I was happy to have her sit with me and pour over the many, many choices.

Kim of Poppy Seed Fabrics has some great sales going on and lots of Anna Maria Horner and lots of voile fabric.

here are some of my favorite finds from her shop right now:

She also has a fantastic blog! Do visit her!

Cutest little skirt for one of the cutest little girls

2011-11-14T13:30:00.000-08:00

Contain yourself, there is a whole lotta cuteness about to come your way...

you've been warned...

see? told you!

I know, right?

she melts me...

The fabrics came from Bobbie Lou's Fabric Factory and is one of my all time favorite shops. The name (and picture) are of Chelsea's grandmother. I have a feeling she'd love what Chelsea did with the picture, don't you? Chelsea has TONS and TONS of new Christmas fabrics in right now and my favorite is the new Michael Miller Christmas line. She also has fabric sets and many of these happen to be from Jennifer's line, SO St. Croix. Visit Chelsea and get a jump start on Christmas!

she has an entire Christmas section...go visit!

The pattern for this oh-so-cute-and-easy skirt is from

It is the Aubrey skirt. I loved making this. It is twirly, girly, ruffly, and has the cutest drawstring so you can see the second tier of fabric. Perfect for fall and winter with tights and spring and summer without them. I see a lot of these in our future!

iPad Cover

2011-11-14T05:44:00.000-08:00

Technically, the iPad is ~~mine~~ ours, as in the adults. It seems that we are the ones who get the chance to use it the least. I love to have it in my sewing room because I can catch up on missed episodes of Desperate Housewives, but they nab it from me. Most of the aps we have are educational but we do still limit screen time.

So, when I found the device sleeve cover (Kindle, Nook, and iPad cover patterns) on etsy in Jasmine's Art works shop, I had to try it out. Maybe it would disguise my iPad or make it so girly with pretty fabric that no one would see it or even want it anymore.

yep, this oughtta do it

I love the fabric. I love to button and that it is padded and sturdy. I loved getting to play with the decorative stitches of my new machine and I love that the iPad will again be ~~mine~~ ours.

and I love the labels!

Jasmine has some of the cutest and easiest patterns! Visit her for this and many more! She has a super cute boy's necktie patterns I am going to try soon.

The beautiful fabric (which I had been hoarding because I didn't want to use it up) is the Heirloom collection by Joel Dewberry. I LOVE JOEL DEWBERRY and I LOVE the Heirloom collection (remember the table runner?). I got a bundle (several large fat quarters cuts from the same line all packaged up and sent) of JD Heirloom from the Fabric Shoppe on esty. If you aren't sure what fabrics look great together, Jody has lots of pre-made bundles that are project ready...even Amy Butler's Lark line as well as lots of Joel Dewberry and Christmas prints. She has the cutest combinations and her prices are wonderful! The hardest part is picking what to get!

so did my clever and oh-so-cute iPad ~~disguise~~ cover work?

no, but it is still cute (and so are they).

I'm Lovin' It

2011-11-10T17:40:00.000-08:00

I'm lovin' that this sweet little one is back in the nest. I'm loving every single loving comment left on this blog. I'm over-the-moon grateful for the love given to us by the hospital staff, our amazing friends, and our wonderful family. I could gush all day.

Other little things I am lovin'

I'm lovin' it even more when I eat it on a fancy plate in my sewing room while everyone is quiet along with my hot cup of pumpkin spice coffee in my favorite coffee cup from my friend Katharine (how 'bout that for run-on sentence? I'm lovin' run on sentences).

I'm more than lovin' these sewing pins that are shaped like birds.

I was so excited that Ariella makes these and sent them to me. Her pins (and other sweet items like felt flowers) are the happiest things to get! Visit her at Piece of Peace for some great (and unbelievably inexpensive) gift ideas.

Suzann is the smarty pants behind Bobbin Blooms and you know, I am LOVIN' em. I love to have things in my sewing room that are decorative but still useful (I love cute but I hate clutter) and these are really a genius item. Any type or size thread work with these and they are just the cutest! Sort of the product that makes you wonder why you didn't think of it! I know you want some...don't worry, I've got a set for you!

And lastly, I am lovin' my new bag from Lucky Cann. I have the Iris bag and have been using it non-stop for a few weeks now. It is roomy, durable, and the handles are comfortable. They lay flat and don't slip. It is washable and has lots of sturdy pockets. Her colors are even nicer in person and these bags are really, really well made. You want one of these too, don't you? Because you're lovin' it, right? Ann from Lucky Cann sent me two for me to gift away to you when she sent mine to me.

Grandest Prize for one of my wonderful followers is the Tiffany Blue Lucky Cann bag (you'll be lovin' it) and a set of Bobbin Blooms. Go ahead, pinch yourself, just make sure you leave a comment so I know that you want one!

Grand Prize is the Pretty Pink Lucky Cann bag (yep, you'll be lovin' this one too). Again, you are already a follower (right?) so leave me a comment so I know that you are (all together now...) lovin' it!

Winners drawn and announced on Thursday, November 17.

I'm linking up with Tidy Mom because she is lovin' it too!

Lark! Who goes there?

2011-11-09T14:50:00.000-08:00

Not only is Amanda from Modern Fabric Studio have a super cute site with a graphic you KNOW is up my alley, she also has the entire Amy Butler Lark line in stock...look at it!!!

the hardest part is choosing which ones to order...

She is also giving away these tote bags with every order over $20

{while supplies last...you better hurry over!}!

Thankful: Update

2011-11-08T07:31:00.000-08:00

Our little lady is a trooper. She is really doing great, didn't end up needing the ICU, and is most likely getting to go home in the morning. The nurses have doted on her and we've both been well taken care of. We've had lots of Dora, chocolate donuts, and orange juice (although not nearly enough sleep). Her breathing sounds great and the doctors are pleased with the sound of her lungs. I'm tired. I miss my other children and favorite guy. I'm ready to go home. I'm ready to shower and I'm ready for my own bed, but I'm still feeling pretty gosh-darn thankful. Life is good.

These were taken this morning when she was still in the ER. She no longer has he oxygen, but even with that bothersome addition to her nose, I think she was pretty stinkin' cute.

She looks pretty peaceful here. She really, really needed to sleep. Too bad this nap was only about 15 minutes long and is the only time that she has slept since 1 am yesterday morning. Her mood is great and her spirits are high (it's going to take one LARGE coffee for me to say the same in the morning).

Love her so much, my heart bursts...

meanwhile, look at my other two turkeys...Our friends Jenn and Todd helped get them to school and Teri and Mark picked them up and loved on them...don't they look like they are longing and dearly missing their wonderful Mommy? I think so too...

Background Story from Original Post:

Emma Kate got a cough yesterday. By dinner it was bit worse. By midnight it was much worse. By 2 am, she was in the emergency room. We're still here and waiting to find out if our delicate flower is going to be spending time in the ICU or regular wing, but either way, she is going to be admitted and spending a day or two getting pampered by the hospital staff.

I am so thankful. I am thankful that at 2 am, I have a husband that jumps out of bed to take our girl in. That we have insurance. I am thankful for the staff taking care of her. For the many friends who have sent kind words and are saying prayers. I am more than thankful for the friends who drop everything to take the other kids to school, pick them up from school, and feed them so Matt and I can be here or at work...having people in your life that you can call at anytime of the day or night and who pick up where you leave off are one of life's biggest blessings. I feel thankful that Emma Kate's condition isn't worse...I am sure many mothers have walked through these same emergency room doors with conditions that are much worse. My heart feels very heavy for them right now, whomever they are. Emma Kate is in great hands, she is a real trooper. All of this is provided by a pretty Awesome God and I am thankful.

I LOVE FALL

2011-11-05T05:34:00.000-07:00

I love fall.

I love these faces.

I love her sweet smile.

I love her freckles.

I love his zest.

I also love apple cider, hot chocolate, anything pumpkin. I am also still loving my new sewing machine, my fabric stash, and my sewing room.

Earlier this season, I picked up some Halloween fabric and wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with it...I just knew I liked it. Enter the table runner. When all else fails, make one!!!

This one was for Caroline's teacher Mrs. Lyles

This one was for her teacher assistant, Mrs. Crisci

and this one? well, its mine!

The fabric came from

the three main stripes are from the Riley Blake collection

Also from Pam's Crafting place came the binding and backing, which is

Michael Miller Avocado Damask

These were so easy and fun to make.

Pam is offering 5% off with the code BLOG05.

...and oh-my-goodness! look at these labels!!!

Michelle at Inked Papers made and sent these to me!!! They are the cutest things and are so much fun to add to my projects! She makes fabric labels, sticker labels, stationary, and tags.

SOOC {Straight-Out-Of-Camera}

2011-11-03T05:27:00.000-07:00

While cleaning up iPhoto, our camera card, and pictures taken with the phone, I found these gems.

no photoshop, no editing...just cuteness and memories of some fun days

It's a small world after all

2011-11-01T11:08:00.000-07:00

You know how hard it is to find great fabric and patterns in town. The Internet and Etsy are my favorite places to find supplies and the prices are often much lower than they would be if you found them in a brick-and-mortar shop because the overhead for these shops is so much lower.

When searching online for this pattern

the school house tunic, I found a great shop, Start to Finish supplies.

Katie, the shop owner, has TONS of jewelry making supplies, button covering kids, and hard-to-find sewing patterns. Through contacting her, she saw my blog and recognized my daughter's school uniform. It turns out that Katie is our preschool director's daughter!!!

Small World!

One of my favorite things that Katie carries are the flower cabochons. I am seeing jewelry everywhere with these on them and they can be pricy, but with the supplies that Katie sells, you can easily make yourself and your friends a piece cheaply.

{go ahead...click}

don't you love these?

I am so glad to have found Katie!

Another great online resource for fabric...really inexpensive fabric is Modern Fabric Studio.

Amanda of Modern Fabric Studio has a huge selection of fabric and has it priced at the half yard. Many are $2 and $2.50 for half a yard! Look at what is on its way to me...

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T17:21:00.000-07:00

I got Halloween pictures a week before Halloween at Caroline's dance class...

I got Halloween pictures over a week before Halloween at a party held by one of the twin's classmates...

I got Halloween pictures last week at the Halloween costume parade at preschool....

but I didn't get one Halloween picture tonight on the actual holiday!

It was rainy, cold, and very sparse with children...but we went and got our candy. Now, let me log off and go raid the goodie bags.

Halloween Dance Party

2011-10-31T06:46:00.000-07:00

Caroline has a Halloween Dance Party in Dance class last week. The family got to stay in class and watch their progress, which for Caroline goes so much farther than a dance routine.

The wore their costumes and dance shoes.

She has several friends in this class, which is why we started Caroline in this studio.

Last year when we attempted dance class, Caroline had a lot of separation anxiety and we ended up postponing dance lessons.

This year, she not only goes in, but she PARTICIPATES!

LOOK AT HER!!!

Even when the teacher called her to go into the center of the room, by herself, to free dance...SHE DID IT!!!

I am so proud!

It was so much fun to see the girls dressed up and in action but it was especially wonderful to see my girl growing up and enjoying her dance lessons!

Patricia

2011-10-31T06:01:00.000-07:00

I sewed in college (I know, party animal right?) but didn't pick it back up again until recently and so much has changed! Gone are the standard patterns with hard to read instructions and flimsy tissue paper (well, they aren't gone exactly, but there are MANY alternatives now!). When I first tip toed into the sewing world again this summer, I started small with little zippered pouches and never dreamt that I would be sewing clothing for myself, but never the less, I saw this pattern and fell in love! Then I got to know Jennifer and her lovely fabrics and fell even more in love. Then I got to know Carla, the patten creator, and got determined. I was going to sew a shirt!

Swimsuit cover up? yep.

Tunic with skinny jeans and boots? uh huh!

Breezy spring shirt with white pants? oh, yes!

plain jane top with mom jeans? no way jose!

This pattern is a pdf pattern that you print off your computer and follow along with your computer for step by step instructions and pictures. Because I had just begun sewing again, I was unfamiliar with the terms and techniques used in this shirt, but Carla explains every step as if the person sewing has never made a thing before (perfect, right?!). You can alter the length, arm shape, and even shape of the tunic to cater to your body style. The biggest tip I would offer would be to take some measurements of your body before you assume you are a certain size. I've always thought of myself as a certain size, but in this pattern, I actually went down one (woo hoo!) size.

This fabric is from the poodle line, which is an older line so you may want to hunt some down before it gets hard to come by. The geometric print is Marnie and the main print is Tanya and as you probably guessed, both are by Sis Boom Jennifer Paganelli.

You can still find some poodle online.

I got the Marnie in green from Contemporary Cloth. Sondra has TONS of fun fabrics and lots of fabrics that you'll never find elsewhere. Her shop is really a well organized one and right now she is having a MEGA sale with 20% off holiday prints and a huge clearance section. You can also purchase fabric form her by the 1/4 yard, which is rare.

The Tanya Print I got from Fashionable Fabrics. Fashionable Fabrics is sort of fabric wonderland for me. I could spend hours perusing the pages of fabric they offer. You can also get fun things like ric rac, appliques, elastic, and sewing patterns. They have a flat 4.95 shipping rate which is a huge deal if you are ordering a good bit as fabric is heavy!

Happy Shopping!

We've Got Spirit, Yes we do!

2011-10-30T08:25:00.000-07:00

Last week was Spirit Week at Coco's school...

Monday was CRAZY CLOTHES day.

Tuesday was Hawaiian Day. They gave the kids each a lei and popsicles at snack time.

Wednesday was School Spirit Day with the school spirit shirts.

Thursday was Team Sports Day. Think she'd have been even cuter wearing the ECU shirt I laid out for her.

{Thanks Chris for the shirt. Usually Sam wears it, but she wanted to wear it!}

Friday was Black and Orange Day.

We've got spirit, yes we do!

We've got Spirit, how 'bout you?

I LOVE NYC

2011-10-28T05:30:00.000-07:00

I really, really do. The sights, smells, shopping, shows....well, I could go on and on.

Like many tourists, one of my favorite places in NYC is Central Park. It seems like every time I go to Central Park I find a new area that I've never seen before. There is such history in the park and I am amazed that in such hustle and bustle there is a calm pond to sail miniature sail boats, a zoo, and preserves scattered all around.

When I started getting back into sewing and discovered etsy, I fell in love with this quilt pattern. When I read Jude's description of how she came to name this quilt, Iphigenes Walk, I knew I had to try it.

"Let me explain the inspiration for the name of this quilt. I grew up in New York City and spent a great deal of my youth in Central Park. This fabric line made me feel very nostalgic and got me thinking about all the beautiful paths in the Park. Iphigene's Walk is one such path dedicated to Iphigene Ochs Sulzberger in 1987. She was a preservationist for the Park from 1934 to 1950. I thought she deserved to have the quilt named for her! The Sulzberger family owns the NY Times and her grandson, Arthur is the current publisher."

"This quilt is super easy to make using only one Jelly Roll and one Background Fabric. The quilt measures 72" x 72". You could easily make it bigger by adding an additional border. Any style of fabric to suit your decor would work with this pattern. The blocks are quite large (15.75") which makes this quilt go together in a flash! It is set on point which leaves plenty of room to show off your beautiful quilting in the setting triangles!"

While I intended on showing you the finished product, the quilting part is taking me longer than expected (I am doing it by hand), so I figured I would show you my progress so far (and repost when the quilt is complete). This quilt front goes together so easily, even for a newbie quilter (if I can put it together, anyone can!). It is the prettiest quilt front and I love the story behind it. Jude has two etsy shops, Little Louise Designs and Patchwork Passion, one with beautiful quilt patterns and another with lots of supplies (tons and tons of jellyrolls perfect for putting this quilt together!). If you tell her what you are making and what prints you want, she can help you get your own quilt kit together!

Another Day, Another Tunic

2011-10-26T17:41:00.000-07:00

cute picture? yes.

totally posed affection? you bet.

cute tunic? yes.

easy to make, stylish, fun evening football project? uh huh!

You already know that I love anything SisBoom and Jennifer Paganelli related and this pattern is one of my favorites. Emma Kate picked this fabric online and asked for a shirt...her only request was to add a bow.

A bow? GREAT IDEA! Why did I not think of this? I love it with the bow (the pattern has directions for adding bows and other closures I just never thought about it. Once I made my first one, I just kept making them assembly line style, all the exact same).

The fabric is from one of my favorite etsy shops, Raspberry Creek. Diana carries my favorite designers, but also carries a TON of fun kid prints. My girls poured over her shop pages forever choosing their favorites!

These were some of their top picks...

all under 8.50 a yard!

There is also lots of flannel and I've seen some cute pajama patterns out there...think it might be time for my next order! Visit Raspberry Creek and pick out some fresh and fun fabric!

looking for the pattern? Go visit Carla (the genius behind all the SisBoom patterns).

This one is the Sophie Pattern...

but there are many, many more wonderful patterns by Carla...do go visit her!

Matthew

2011-10-25T09:09:00.000-07:00

I married up. Not in status. Not in wealth. I married the kind of guy I hope my girls marry. A man of character. He is steady, even, cool headed, smart, and adores me in all of my quirks (and bad habits, character flaws, imperfections, and those parts of me that are far from charming). He on the other hand married a real lemon and I am striving to be the kind of wife I would be happy with my own son having. I run the car into things (or other drivers). A lot. I can be impatient. I spend too much at Target. I am impatient (did I mention that?). I am forgetful. But in all of my faults, being married to him has not only made me a better person, but it makes me want to keep working on it.

tons, still Matthew. TONS.

in case your husband's name isn't Matthew and you need a reminder...

Some days you are the bird...

2011-10-23T16:40:00.000-07:00

and some days you are the statute...

My sewing machine is on its last leg. How do I know? The smoking and "wrrrr wrrr wrrr" sort of gave it away. Also, the needle isn't going up and down and that is critical to the sewing process. I am pouting. Can you tell? Ask my kids or husband if you don't believe me. I am definitely pouting...but maybe now I will get the laundry done, cabinets organized, closets tidied, baseboards scrubbed, ceiling fans dusted, drawers dejunked....

~~at least until she arrives...then all bets are off!~~

{isn't she beautiful? I am in love.}

Life's a Beach Tablerunner

2011-10-17T13:25:00.000-07:00

We visited my parents this weekend. It was a wonderful few days with family and one of the highlights was getting our feet in the sand. My favorite time to go to the beach is in the fall; the water is still warm from summer, it isn't crowded, and you aren't sweltering with the last season's heat.

I had a jelly roll of Whimsy fabric and knew when I saw the colors that it would be perfect for Gigi (my grandmother) so I made her one...so easy! Because a jelly roll easily gives you two table runners, I made one for my mom too.

Whimsy Fabric

Gigi's table runner was made with a subway tile style pattern where I staggered the seams. My mom's was a simple strip design.

The finished product on my Mom's table.

The jelly roll (these are my favorite items right now...there are so many quick projects that you can make with a jelly roll) came from Stephanie of Quilting Whimsy. Not only does she sell fabric, jelly rolls, and patterns, but she also sells her own table runners! Now that I make these myself (albeit very simplistic designs...hers are true QUILTS), I will tell you, her prices are amazing!!! Her store is organized into product size, which is very helpful! On top of jelly rolls, she also has charm packs, honey buns, and layer cakes. Go give her a visit!

So cute, it's scary!!!

2011-10-16T11:34:00.000-07:00

Very Rarely do I get all three kids in matching clothes and I suspect that I have limited time ahead of me that they will think it is cool, so I was really excited to make them monogrammed Halloween shirts.

These are so easy to make...

print out a few letters from a thick font that you like

choose a fabric, t-shirt, thread, and some heat-n-bond iron on fusible web

cut out letters

fuse iron on webbing onto fabric, trace letter onto fabric, and cut out your letters

peel the backing away and iron onto your shirt....easy!

for added strength, I sew around the letter with my machine

The kids are very excited about Halloween and I was thrilled to get this fabric in! It came from the etsy shop, Pam's Crafting Place.

While she has many, many bolts of great fabric, she has a TON of holiday fabric. Lots of Halloween, Fall, and Christmas prints (go ahead and get a jump start on your Winter gifts!). Pam is offering 5% off your entire order using the coupon code BLOG5.

Tacos

2011-10-09T11:51:00.000-07:00

Wednesdays are dance days after school and when we get home, Caroline likes to help me get dinner ready. This Wednesday she prepared the lettuce for the tacos! I love having the kids "help" in the kitchen!

Liverpool Tunic

2011-10-07T07:09:00.000-07:00

When I told you that I was enjoying all the football, I meant it! A few weeks ago, I received the most beautiful fabric and knew right away that I wanted to make the Liverpool Tunic by Amy Butler with it. I love button up shirts and I love tunic length tops, so this was win-win. It was also a sort of course in sewing; collars, collar stands, buttonholes, buttons, cuffs, french seams, and darts. While I knew very little when I started this project, I feel like I learned a ton along the way and like the way it turned out. Every step is explained and illustrated, which is why her patterns are worth every penny!

The lovely fabric is by none other than my sweet friend, Jennifer Paganelli and is from her So St. Croix line. This line is getting harder and harder to find, but I found a great source for this line and many others! Becky from Clothesline fabrics not only carries this line (and the Poodle line) but she has them priced at $6.25 a yard!!! I only used about 2.5 yards for the shirt above, so you can see how economical sewing for yourself can be! Becky also has Dena, Studio e, and Windham fabrics and some are under $5 a yard. She is a real find! If after all of my postings on sewing, you still aren't taking it up, you can visit Becky's other shop, Granny B's Clothesline, which features BEAUTIFUL clothing already made for you like pillowcase dresses, matched shirts and pants, and monogrammed items. My girls are drooling over her peasant dresses and the embroidered bloomers would make a great baby gift.

Hoot, Hoot, the fabric is so cute!

2011-10-05T10:13:00.000-07:00

I got this fabric, Zinnia Cathedral by Anna Maria Horner, a few months ago from Angela of Hoot Fabric. She carries some of my favorite fabric designers and lines and introduced me to a few new ones. Her prices are spectacular and she has a HUGE variety. She also has a shop, Polka Dot Birdie, that sells great items that are perfect for gift giving; ipad cases, cases for e- readers, wristlets, and hair bows. Not only is the fabric she sells lovely, but the combinations she uses in her own creations are equally wonderful!

I wasn't quite sure what to do with this fabric and it almost became a set of place mats and napkins until I had worked with the Anna Tunic pattern and now want one in every possible color. Because the dress is lined, it is perfect for fall with the addition of a jacket or cardigan and a pair of boots (unless you are with your husband and he doesn't have the same love for boots you do). This pattern is the perfect marriage of being tailored and loose fitting and is ultimately comfortable... and since my daughter has voiced her disdain for yoga pants, pieces like this are very welcome in my closet.

Want to join me in fabric hoarding? Visit Angela and Hoot Fabrics and for every yard you buy, she is going to gift you with a surprise half yard!

When paying make sure you write in the comment box that you are from "three in the nest" so she knows to send you the bonus fabric!

Hurry and snatch some up and let me know what you picked out!

Cute that won't quit

2011-10-05T06:55:00.000-07:00

love the shoes

love the knee high socks

love the sweater and hair bow

and I especially love that smile!

I LOVE Fall!

2011-10-03T08:25:00.000-07:00

‎"Fall is a southerner's reward for surviving summer." James Farmer

Amanda, lucky number 17, you are going to make a quilt! I hope you love it as much as I do.

didn't win?...Joy is offering 20% off all Honey Child Fabrics!

find Joy on Facebook to see what quilts SHE makes...wow!

typing

2011-09-28T04:27:00.000-07:00

Matthew was working with Caroline on typing her name and other words...love seeing them together!

Gill

2011-09-24T08:41:00.000-07:00

Meet Gill. He was a member of our family for about three weeks and was named for a character on Bubble Guppies. Sam caught him outside and wanted to keep him (and was the one who named him). It was a great science project for us. We got online and researched what type of frog he was (grey tree frog), what he eats (crickets), what his life was like (nocturnal, hides in foliage during the day) and how to prepare a home for him (we made a habitat box). We had a blast getting crickets at the pet store and feeding him, watching him swim, and croak at his reflection in the mirror.

Sam was especially fond of him.

After a few weeks, Gill wasn't eating as much, so we decided to release him. I had to snap a few pictures of Sam saying his good byes...this was the first time I let the kids handle him as we learned that frogs have sensitive skin and hate to be touched (we read this factoid online, not from firsthand experience, thank-you-very-much).

I carried a bug-box with me as a kid (even prissy girls can like critters) so this little biology experiment was a blast for me too! I love the nurturing side it brought out in the kids and how they instantly wanted to know everything about him and do some research.

A Joyful Soul Quilt

2011-09-21T06:33:00.000-07:00

I've gotten some emails about my quilt front. I was planning on waiting to tell you about it when I had batted, binded, and finished it...but I have such an exciting giveaway planned that I have to tell you all about it now!

I found the pattern for this quilt a few months ago when I was still barely able to thread my machine by myself. I contacted a quilting friend of my Mom's (Hi, Holly!) and she said the tutorial was well written and the pattern easy to understand (Hi, Katy!). The next step would be getting the fabric...here comes the exciting part!

I found Joy of a Joyful Soul Fabrics (don't you LOVE that name?!) and told her that I was planning on making and blogging this quilt, did she have the fat quarters for sale...do you know what she said? Joy not only had them, she gave a set to me AND sent a second set for YOU! She wanted me to have them as well as give a set away! You see, the fabrics in this quilt are from none other than Jennifer Paganelli and she is a big fan of Jennifer's too!

the quilt is very, very easy...I found it easiest to make it assembly line style.

I cut all of my squares out (the big and small) and matched them up

lots of beautiful scraps...fabric ribbon to be made!

squres ready to be pieced together in sets of four

playing with the layout

a finished square

I had enough to make a full size quilt and intended on making this for my bed, but the girls fell in love with it. We are planning on getting twin beds for them and letting them share a room this fall, so I went a little rogue with the pattern...I divided up my quilt, added an extra row (I already had some additional fabric from this line) and a border to make two twin size quilt fronts.

Joy carries beautiful fabrics and LOTS and LOTS of Jennifer Paganelli! Her prices are wonderful and she has a ton of quilting kits to choose from. A talented quilter herself, Joy knows what quilters and seamstresses want and need. You can find her on Facebook, which lets you get a peek into her latest project and an exclusive view into her shop's latest deals.

Joy is giving you a HUGE gift...an entire set of fat quarters to make the quilt I made (also seen here) and we are throwing in the fabric for the back and binding. The giveaway is open to all blog followers and all you have to do is visit her on Facebook and tell me what your favorite quilt kit or project is...believe me, there are a LOT to choose from! Even if you are not a "quilter" you can make this!

I will pick a winner on Oct 3 and post the winner here! Fingers crossed for you!

Anna Tunic

2011-09-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

UPDATE:

Ruth from Sew Love Fabrics just emailed me and told me that the code, THREEINTHENEST will be good for 15% off your total! She also has a Christmas shop, SewLove Christmas, so you can really rack up the savings!!!

I fell in love with sewing and after a few easy projects, I got brave. Brave enough to try this pattern. I read every review on every blog I could find about people who sewed this, what they thought about it, and if a beginner could attempt it. They all seemed to say a beginner could. I am so glad they were right!

Amy Butler patterns are FANTASTIC for beginners because they are sewing lessons. For example, this pattern involves under stitching and when it comes time to use the technique in the pattern, she gives you a very easy lesson on exactly how to do it. More advanced seamstresses can glide right over the parts they already know. Her patterns are very precise, worded very well, and easy! I might also add QUICK! I made two of these in two days (one tunic length and one dress!). The pattern comes complete with sizes XS-XXL as well as several lengths. You can wear it belted, unbelted, with the flower, or without. It is really a very easy and customizable piece. Because it is lined with muslin, it lays nicely and is a nice pattern for fall and winter as I can add a jacket or cardigan when it gets cool.

blurry, but not bad for a five year old photographer

It should come as no surprise that the fabric I chose is a Jennifer Paganelli (actually, Caroline picked this fabric out for a tunic for her but let me use it if I promised to order some more for her!). This particular fabric is from her new West Indies line and is the Marie in pink. It is the softest, smoothest, and nicest to work with fabric. Sew Love Fabrics carries the entire West Indies line for only $8.75 a yard. Ruth carries all of the big names (Joel Dewberry, Amy Butler, Jennifer Paganelli) and the most recent lines they create. She also makes matched bundles which really helps if you are making something that uses two complementary fabrics but don't know which ones pair up well. Any one of her bundles would make a great set of placemats, quilt, or matching shirts for your little ones. I like her site because it is organized by designer and her prices are so low! I also appreciate how quickly she gets the fabric in the mail!

Pillow Shams

2011-09-19T07:34:00.000-07:00

I've told you before that I am attempting to make a quilt using this pattern from Katy. I actually made it bigger, adding an extra row on the side and bottom, then divided it in two, added a border, and now have two twin quilt fronts for the girl's beds (they will be sharing a room soon!). I wanted to make matching pillow shams but couldn't find exactly what I was looking for...so I made it up as I went. Here is what I ended up with...

ruffles? check!

bows? check?

favorite fabric (dana from the honey child line)? check!

these were SO easy (would you kill me if I said, "sew easy"?)! I just measured a pillow case I already had, subtracted the "cuff" and sewed around the three sides. I then added coordinating ties and a quick ruffle. The pair took about an hour!

SkyeReve fabrics carries some of my favorite fabric designers...her selection is amazing and it is organized so you can easily find what you are looking for. She also has a huge sale section with some great fabric selections at very low prices. I got my material for the pillow shams from SkyeReve and it came wrapped so beautifully, it was like getting a present (and it arrived just three days after ordering). She carries Jennifer Paganelli fabrics at great prices (the above is from the Honey Child collection and is my favorite!!!). While shopping, check out her new collections:

Secret Garden by Sandi Henderson
Storyboek by Birch Fabrics
Sophie by Chez Moi

Like her on Facebook for exclusive offers and notifications on sales!

tired monkey

2011-09-12T16:44:00.000-07:00

what do you get when you add in preschool and take away a nap time?

one tired little monkey

she was top banana (the class "star" for the day)!

set the table

2011-09-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

I ordered this grey and white fabric from Fashionable Fabrics over a month ago...I loved it, but the scale was larger than I expected and too big a pattern to make the tunic I had planned to make. I was stumped as to what to do with the three yards I had...until I got this fabric from Bippity Alice. The Oz fabric went perfectly with the Taza and I knew I wanted to make placemats and napkins.

these are really more of a process than a "pattern" and like everything I sew, if I can do this, you better believe that you can! I am self taught and know very little!

I began by getting a placemat I already had and measuring it. I then cut out two pieces of this for each placemat. My dimensions were 17.5 x 12.5

to incorporate the floral fabric I cut a 4.5 inch strip and eyed where I wanted it

from the edge, I marked the 7 inch mark and cut a straight line

I then removed 4 inches of fabric from the placemat front to allow for the 4.5 inch strip of floral fabric (and a 1/4 inch seam on either side of the strip)

pin the floral strip, right sides together, on your placemat...sew with a 1/4 inch seam allowance (which for me is the edge of my foot)

do with both sides of the fabric

press open your seems

then, right sides together, sew the top of the placemat to the bottom, leaving a 3 inch section un-sewn for turning inside out. press...neatly hand stitch the hole open and topstitch with a contrasting thread (I used hot pink!)

for the napkins, I did the same basic treatment

I measured a small cloth napkin I already had

cut a horizontal line 2.5 inches down from the top

added a 1 inch strip of the Taza fabric and replaced the top

sew top to bottom, right sides together, turn inside out (clip your corners first), press, topstitch (hot pink)

set the table

when I use nicer placemats and napkins, it makes dinner feel a little more special and the behavior from the little ones a little bit better...

Bippity Alice is one of my favorite etsy resources for fabric and I loved this Oz print! I have saved the last few scraps from this project and will combine them with the unused yellow print I still have for a table runner. Her prices are amazing and she gets your fabric in the mail quickly! She also makes cloth books, aprons, and bags in case you don't sew! I am thrilled to have found her!

I love football season...

2011-09-07T06:54:00.000-07:00

It's not the tailgating, rooting for my favorite team, or enjoying the game with the other screaming fans that has me pumped for football this season. It's my sewing machine. No, really. I've converted my dining room into a sewing room and while Matthew is glued to the TV (and laptop so he can be on the message boards while watching the game) I can steal away into a craft oblivion.

So far, I've made the girl's a few of these tunics. They LOVE them and LOVE picking out their own fabric online. It's fun to have them in my sewing room visiting and picking out the patten and fabric they want while I cut it out and piece it together. Emma Kate chose this fabric and while I had intended on making lunch-box napkins and snack bags with it, she really wanted another tunic made from it...so we did!

The pattern is from the Sis Boom team of Jennifer Paganelli (do you recognize the West Indies fabric used in the facing?!) and Carla Crim (geniuses in fabric design and pattern making). Carla's patterns (she is none other than the Scientific Seamstress) are modern, quick, and EASY! This tunic took all of two hours from start to finish to make and it is roomy and comfortable. I added a little extra fabric in the front facing cut out to make it a bit more modest and so that she doesn't need a shirt underneath.

fabric source:

The fabric used is from an etsy shop, Down Shadow Lane. She has the most organized shop, which makes finding a specific designer or line SO EASY! This apple and pear fabric is by Alexander Henry and in most places is about $9 a yard, but Jen carries his fabrics for around $6.75 a yard! She also carries my favorite Jennifer Paganelli fabrics starting at $6.00 a yard which is a few dollars less per yard than most places! If you are looking for Heather Bailey, Amy Butler, Joel Dewberry and other designer fabrics for a low price, you should check out Jen from Down Shadow Lane. Her fabric arrived just two days after ordered and was wrapped beautifully. So glad to have found her!

Weekend with my pack...

2011-09-06T10:51:00.000-07:00

We had the best, long weekend. On Saturday Matthew took us to see the Wolfpack play (I am a Pack fan anytime they aren't playing my Pirates!). It was hot, crowded, and sticky, but FUN! We lasted a full half and got to see our sweet friends, the Lexa Family, before the game started. The kids really watched the game and asked questions about it...I think this is going to be a family tradition!

On Sunday, we had Church and Dunkin' Donuts (our bribe for good behavior...not that it works because the kid's behavior during Mass wasn't great and we still went to Dunkin' Donuts) with our Lexas and grocery shopped. A low-key Sunday well spent!

Monday was a day off for everyone and our zoo plans were rained out, so we went to a jumping house. The kids LOVED it! It was so much fun for us to see them really get into it and great to know that they were getting some wonderful exercise. Matt's parents were driving through town and stopped to have lunch with us at our favorite hamburger place.

What a great weekend!!!

Sam and Emma Kate's First Day

2011-08-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

Sam and Emma Kate had a wonderful day of preschool! No tears, no fear, no clinging. In fact, they forgot to even say good bye to me, which is fine. They have AMAZING teachers who not only make class fun, they LOVE what they do...and it shows. I am so proud of these two and so excited to see what this year holds in store for them!

no, really, he DID have a good day!

honest he did...

you've come a long way babies!

My Favorite Things: August

2011-08-30T13:37:00.000-07:00

I LOVE cardigans. Last summer I bought a open cardigan that could tie in the front and I wore it out. I have just discovered that Jockey Person to Person makes a line of clothing and one of the items is the convertible cardigan. I was sent one to review and fell in love! It is made of THE softest jersey kit fabric, the color is vibrant (I have the fuschia), and it is the most comfortable piece of clothing I own. It is the perfect item to dress up a pair of pants and tank top and is the ideal piece to grab when temperatures change (I have worn mine to the movies, out to dinner, to church, and over a dress to a school function). It is a piece that I want in every color and with as much use as I've gotten from it, I think this is justifiable! They have an extensive line of beautiful clothing and I have several pieces earmarked for Christmas.

Teenage skin caught up with me after having children. As a teenager I rarely had an issue with blemishes, but after kids I have had a lot of problems. While my skin is dry, it is also fair, thin, and sensitive. Add acne on to that and I was at a total loss as how to treat my skin. When I found Elizabeth's products, I was at my wit's end. Her shea butter cream and serum have DRAMATICALLY changed my skin's tone, clarity, and dryness. I am amazed at what three little weeks have done in using these products. The smell great and feel great. The shea butter has natural antibiotic properties and is gentle; I've used it on some of Emma Kate's eczema and it soothes the inflamation. The serum gives your skin a glowy, dewy look and instantly refreshes tired looking skin. The bottles and labels are beautiful and she also has a sweet little make-up bag which would make her line the perfect gift ( blemishes or clear skin, it matters not). I could go on and on, but I think it would be better for you to try her out yourself! If you are a follower of this little 'ol blog, leave me a comment telling me that you want this shea cream and she will gift one lucky winner one!

Quilting and sewing are my new obessions...look at this lovely quilt! Katy walked me through it and assured me I could do it...and guess what? I did! I am almost done (more extensive blog post on that later!). She even helped me with some math so I could make it to fit a twin or queen size bed. I am thrilled to have found Katy and her pattern!

{this is Katy's lovely quilt and picture...mine isn't photo ready}

Step into my ~~dining room~~ sewing room and you will see evidence that I am a wee bit bitten by the fabric bug. I am not ashamed to say that I have become a full-fledged fabric hoarder. My favorites right now are jelly rolls! There is so much that you can do with them! One great place to get a great price on jelly rolls and fabric in general is Quilting Whimsy. She has great prices, a great selection, and is the nicest of nice! She even made a coupon code for readers of this blog...

enter { THREEINTHENEST20} to receive 20% off your purchase...don't you love that?! I love coupons, but one with my blog name?! LOVE IT!

Quilted Table Runner

2011-08-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

Fresh out of the dryer, this is the quilted table runner I just finished. I am more than a little excited because it actually turned out and I have never before quilted, used bias tape, made bias tape, or washed something and it stay together! I think I am hooked now...quilting is addicting (does that make me sound like I am 80? I don't care!).

you start with this, a jelly roll, which is a set of 40 strips cut into 2.5 inch wide 44 inch long pieces

they come precut and already pinked (zig zag cut)

I then cut them so that I they were 22 inches long, but that made my table runner too wide, a table runner should be about 17-18 inches wide, so next time I will cut them as such.

I am excited that a jelly roll can make two to three of these though...(leftover edges of quilted strips are destined to be placemat edges, just you wait).

match them up and pin them right sides together

I liked laying mine out so that warm and cool colors were equally mixed and that the prints were well dispersed (not two paisleys or two florals as neighbors)

when you are done matching up your strips, you are ready to sew using a 1/4 seam allowance

(using the term "seam allowance" almost makes me feel like a real seamstress!)

I press the seams open

once pressed open, the are waiting to be sewn together again

once they are all sewn together, iron it out nice and flat and make sure the seams are open, which also helps to minimize bulk

lay your backing fabric face down on a smooth surface, add your batting (I used flannel), and to with your quilt top. make sure your batting and quilt bottom are a bit bigger than your top. pin down in place and quilt that baby right up!

at this stage, I just sew right on top of the top of the quilt front. I use the edge of my sewing foot as my guide and just make straight lines. It is very easy and you can see my lines in one of the close ups below. Make as many or as few lines as you want.. This is such a great beginner's project!!!

I don't have a picture of it, but at this stage, trim it all up so your edges are all the same length

make your self some bias tape...there are a millioin tutorials out there that helped me greatly

I used this one and it clicked for me...

lay out your runner somewhere nice and flat (the floor is perfect) and pin down your tape to the edge

like this

sew with a 1/4 inch seam allowance

flip it over

look at those mitered corners! you can point this out to your husband, who is watching football, but trust me, he really isn't that interested

pin it down again and hand sew (I know, I know...yuck) the bias

wash and dry

and LOOK

LOOK WHAT YOU MADE!!!

and it is reversible (if you did your hand sewing a little neater than mine that is)!

a few lessons learned in this project (skip if you know what you are doing):

1. if your machine starts making a noise from the bobbin nether region, don't ignore it. it won't go away and you will have to become best buddies with your seam ripper.

2. rotary cutters are more than just for cutting fabric, they also are wonderful at cutting skin. you've been forewarned.

3. check your bobbin and thread before you begin. nothing is worse that getting ready to sew and having to stop to wind them up (well, a finger cut with a rotary cutter is worse, but you know what I mean)

4. the dials on your machine aren't just to look neat, they have functions. learn how to adjust tension, stitch length, etc. it makes a BIG difference.

5. don't promise a project to someone else until you finish it. you might end up wanting to keep it and your mom will guilt it out of you.

Fabric Source:

Fat Quarter Shop

I live in a pretty good sized city but there are only 2 fabric stores (and a few little shops that are pretty pricy) and they are both over 15 miles away. They also don't carry "good" fabric so I have turned to finding neat shops online. This one of the coolest shops that I have found. The prices are great, the selection is amazing, and you can order in any increment you like. The jelly roll (Joel Dewberry "Heirloom") and the backing fabric (Kaffe Fasset White Line Dance) as well as the fabric used to make the bias all came from The Fat Quarter Shop. It arrived only three days after I ordered and was beautifully packaged. I will definitely order from them again (and again and again)...

Guest Blogger: Caroline the Kindergartener

2011-08-25T11:38:00.000-07:00

My name is Caroline.

I am going to Kindergarten.

This is my school uniform.

I am five.

This is my new backpack and lunchbox.

This is me and my Mommy.

This is me with my Daddy.

I cried for just a couple of minutes at drop off today because I was scared, but only for a teensy second. I was too busy to miss my family. I LOVE KINDERGARTEN and my teachers and new friends.

School is a really happy place.

Bunny waits for me in the car and I get to see her and my family after getting picked up at carpool. It was a great day!

*note from Mommy: Tears were shed, just a few, and surprisingly, they were only Caroline's, not mine. I think she was nervous and not sure about the routine but she is excited to go back and had talked a mile a minute about school for the last two hours now! Yay Kindergarten!!!

Back to School

2011-08-24T04:31:00.000-07:00

Matthew, Caroline, and I got a sneak peek into the classroom this week. We saw the class, looked at the in-room bathroom, found her cubby, spotted her coat/book back peg, located the supplies, read the notes on the bulletin board, and enjoyed talking with her sweet teachers-to-be. My stomach was nervous on the way there, but she kept saying how excited she was. Again, before bed last night, she told me how excited she was. This morning, she told me she was excited. While I still expect a few tears or some apprehension (at least on my part if not on hers) I love this enthusiasm she is showing! Tomorrow is the first day of school and I think my girl is ready!

Sophie Tunic

2011-08-20T14:55:00.000-07:00

I have been drooling over Sis Boom patterns for awhile now and through Jennifer Paganelli, I met Carla Crim (The Scientific Seamstress), the pattern maker. She designs all of Jennifer's patterns and is not only extremely concise with directions, sizing, and measurements, but her patterns give picture step-by-step instructions...I love them! I'll show this pattern more in depth when I make it next week with authentic Sis Boom fabric! This is the Sophie Tunic and I can see making them in every color...I made these in an evening!

So cute, right?

{and the kids aren't bad either}

{Sam said that Emma Kate looked like a beautiful butterfly in this one...love that guy!}

goofballs

2011-08-16T10:13:00.000-07:00

2011-08-16T08:18:00.000-07:00

oh boy...I wish I had a copy of Girl's World for everyone who entered, it is THAT good, but the lucky winner who IS getting a copy is...

send me an email Ashley with your address and I will get your copy in the mail this week!

Sis Boom

2011-08-11T08:58:00.000-07:00

I am a huge fan of Jennifer Paganelli. She is a talented designer with an incredible line of the most beautiful fabric (and the softest too!). Here are just a few of the many she has designed:

Jennifer is also the lady behind Sis Boom, the one-of-a-kind vintage product line that offers fabric, stationery, sewing patterns, and a very special book. Look at some of her sewing patterns (she works with Carla Crim of the Scientfic Seamstress)...aren't they awesome?! Truly, between these patterns and her fabrics, you can create boutique pieces of your very own!

I had to write to Jennifer and tell her just how much I love her work. Her style and pieces are so happy (don't they remind you of a vacation?) that I had to reach out to her. After conversing with her, I learned that she is just as beautiful inside and out as the designs she creates. She very generously sent me a book of the most lovely notecards (each card printed with a piece of her fabric...I plan to frame a few of mine!) and a book to giveaway to you! Once I flipped through the book she sent for you, I had to get me own! She also sent me a piece of fabric (Maeve was the name of this sweet fabric) and the girls and I made the sweetest little zippered pouches...can't wait to buy more of her fabric for dresses!

The girl's love her book, Girl's World, which is filled with ideas, projects, and patterns to make dresses, banners, pillows, and accessories for the girls in your life. It is not only beautiful to look at but for gift giving as well. What makes this book even more special is that she inscribed it and signed it for you! I know you'll treasure your copy (and have a hard time deciding what to make first) as much as I do. Visit Jennifer...you'll love her! If you are a follower and want a copy of this sweet book, leave me a comment! I'd love to hear what you would like to make!

My Favorite Things: The Winner is a Favorite Reader

2011-08-05T07:36:00.000-07:00

I wish you all could have won, I really, really do! I used the random number chooser to be fair and Natalie (from corporate to domestic) won! Congrats Natalie! Enjoy your headband and camera strap (I know I do!)

If you had your heart set on a piece from Kristy's shop, Aposhtrophe, and didn't win, don't worry! She is generously offering a 25% off discount! Let her know that you found her here and she will take the percentage off your order.

***Also, another bit of exciting news...juliethefish designs is having a 2 day sale...on August 8th and 9th, Julie is offering 20% off if you use the code TWODAY20. I am getting a special piece for Caroline to wear for back to school...more on that later! ***

July Recap

2011-08-02T06:10:00.001-07:00

My Favorite Things

2011-07-25T17:39:00.000-07:00

While I didn't watch Oprah very often, I did LOVE her favorite things shows. I really love hearing about new and innovative products. Redbook magazine has a section that lists new and inexpensive items (50 things under $50) that I really enjoy reading. The last time I did a segment on "things I love" I loved reading your comments and emails about your favorite things so I've decided to make this a monthly edition...the exciting part is that I have some great items lined up to show you and what is even better is that you are going to get the chance to win some of them!

My Favorite Things: July

I first read about Think Thin bars on GOOP (Gwyneth's Blog that I adore). Think Thin bars are amazing! You can use them as a meal or a snack. They have NO preservatives, are gluten free, taste great, and are very reasonably priced (1.99 a bar or $1.69 when in a box). The flavors (10!) are so decadent and rich, you really think you are eating a candy bar and I like that they are so dense and filling. They have 15-20 grams of protein, no grams of sugar, and taste great. They have a similar texture to a slim-fast bar without the chemical, artificial taste. The bites are a really nice snack (I had the dark chocolate) and are a great 100 calorie snack that are also sugar free, gluten free, preservative free, and are honestly delicious and filling.

I was given one lone Emi Jay band from a friend who wanted me to try them (she had ordered a multi pack and was kind enough to share). I must have worn that hairband everyday for the first three or four weeks after I got it. Caroline borrowed it (without asking) for a Barbie doll and it was never seen again (by me anyway). When I went to order some, I read the story about how these bands came to be and about the two teenage girls who came up with the idea, needless to say it is a very sweet company. This great company with an amazing product donates its proceeds to five awesome charities; operation smile, project knapsack, locks of love, toys for tots, partners in health/Haiti. The ponytail holders don't leave a crease in your hair, they strongly hold the ponytail in place, they don't "pull" (which often gives me a headache when I wear a ponytail), and they are cute! I love them...and had to hide the new ones that arrived from Barbie!

My sweet friend Chris knows I LOVE cookbooks and bought me this one a couple weeks ago (she used to eat at the Foster's Market Cafe in Durham). I would rather read a new cookbook than a regular book or magazine. And while I don't want my friends to buy me gifts (although I do love to buy them), I cherish this book. Every page has either a beautiful recipe or photograph or both. I have heard amazing things about Foster's (you know Sara Foster worked for Martha? THE Martha?) scones and look forward to trying them. I made their sugar cookies (the Letter "A" cookies). I've really enjoyed reading this book page by page over and over. Definitely one of my favorite cookbooks and a real keeper...just like Chris.

If you read a lot of blogs, especially those that have great pictures or talk a lot about photography, you've probably seen camera straps...but you've never seen ones this cute, this inexpensive, or this soft! I have one and LOVE LOVE LOVE it! The hardest part of ordering from Virginia of Pickleberry Lane will be choosing which one to get. Usually after a few minutes of wearing my camera around my neck I am usually ready to take it off (it rubs), but the minky dot fabric that she uses makes it soft and cushy. Guess what? You can win one! Yes, you (you are a follower of this blog, aren't you?)! Go to her store and look around. "Like" her on facebook. Leave me a comment telling me which one you want. I'll let you know next week (August 5th) if you are a winner.

Kristy of Aposhtrophe is an accessory designer who makes the CUTEST headbands and clips made out of leather and flowers. I have her roundabout headband (see below) and when Caroline let's me wear it (it's pink after all) I love that I can wear it all day and it doesn't pinch behind the ears or give me a headache. It also keeps my bangs mostly out of the way and stays in place; it doesn't slide. She has almost every color you could want as well as neutrals and metallics (I am drooling over the gold flowers!). Do you like my headband? Do YOU want one (you can share with your girls, one size fits you both)...any follower of this blog is eligible. "Like" her on Facebook to enter for a chance to win a roundabout headband of your very own (you can choose the colors you want). Just leave me a comment letting me know!

So, just to recap, we have a one big giveaway here (an awesome camera strap and a super cute headband). Become a follower, Go "Like" them, and leave me a comment to enter! Winner posted next week, fingers crossed for you!

Katharine's Mexican Layered Dinner

2011-07-17T08:17:00.000-07:00

Our friends Katharine and Chris made this for us one night for dinner when we first met. It was love at first bite; seven years later, it is still my favorite! It is a very versatile dish as you can use it as a filling for wraps, burriotos, etc. or as a dip for dinner. It is filling, not too spicy for kids, and feeds a crowd (the the 4 of us when we get together). Enjoy!

fill in the blank:

"I like my salsa like I like my___________________: SMOOTH"

this post brought to you by the letter "A"

2011-07-15T18:16:00.000-07:00

We began the alphabet again this week. Caroline works on her penmanship, phonics, and writing words that begin with the letter of the day and the twins work on recognition, sounds of, and practice writing. We did some fun things this week: pancakes shaped like the letters (no pictures. my kids are early risers but I am not functioning let alone thinking about my camera at 6:30 a.m. I will tell you equal parts pancake mix to water and a squeeze bottle make shaped pancakes a cinch), peanut butter and goldfish lunch shaped like the letters, and my personal favorite...sugar cookies.

If those letter "A" sugar cookies look funny to you its because they are letter "V"s. I bought a box of 100 shaped cookie cutters (a great set that has the alphabet, numbers, shapes, animals, and sports) and wouldn't you know that it was missing ONE cutter...the letter "A".

Stinkers

2011-07-11T11:13:00.000-07:00

We let the kids ride their bikes in the driveway after dinner last night. Of course, I grabbed my camera and got a few shots. I didn't think much about it until a few minutes ago when I downloaded the pictures onto my computer. When I looked at the pictures on the screen, it was as if I had pushed a fast forward button on my camera...look how old these little turkeys look!

this little rugrat is leaving me and going to Kindergarten in the fall...

I haven't forgiven her yet

does every mother want to lock up their children and keep them small forever or is it just me?

what a nut!

and this guy! tough little man...

this picture shows no baby left...he looks so grown up to me!

the tricycle helps babify him a bit...

those red cheeks tell you how hot it was (he wasn't sunburnt, I promise)

but before long, he will leave me too!

then there is this one...

we call her "sweet-and-sour"

she needs me less and less everyday and before long she will want me less and less everyday...

and will probably have the nerve to start Kindergarten too....little stinker

and don't even get me started on this guy, the ultimate button pusher...

but one thing I really like about him right now is that he promised to stick around and never leave me (and thank goodness he is done with Kindergarten)

4th of July Weekend

2011-07-07T12:22:00.000-07:00

We were lucky enough to see both sides of our family this 4th of July weekend. We spend the 3rd with my side as it was my Mom's birthday. It was fun to celebrate with my parents and grandparents . We cooked out, played outside, and enjoyed cake. On the 4th, we grilled out and went out on the boat to see the fireworks from the water. It was a great weekend and we are so lucky to live close enough to see our family as often as we do.

Happy Birthday Mom!

2011-07-01T13:21:00.001-07:00

Good Friends

2011-06-24T17:21:00.000-07:00

Every now and then you make good friends. We're blessed to have some really great ones. Our dear friends Chris and JP have children of similar ages, similar parenting styles, and enjoy spending a low-key weekend hanging out together. Last weekend they hosted our family for outside fun and grilling out. We had a blast! Thanks for a great evening, we love you guys!

Father's Day

2011-06-19T17:55:00.000-07:00

I am beyond grateful for the Father that I have. I am thankful for the Father-in-law I have. I am in awe and wonder of the father my children have. Our house runs smoothly and we have fun all because of Matthew. I am thankful for the playfulness and rough-housing he provides (after a day with only me all day, they welcome this from him). I don't always like playing the "bad cop" but I am so glad that they have a soft place to land in him. The children adore him as do I. Happy Father's Day Love!

Tons!

that's the way the cookie crumbles

2011-06-15T12:13:00.000-07:00

I forget. A lot. Dentist appointments, preschool functions, things at the store, most of what Matt tells me, and almost everything I learned in math class. Rarely do I forget recipes I love but this time I did. You see, I have a great recipe from America's Test Kitchen for thick and chewy chocolate chip cookies. They look like this (I use mini chips)...

here is the recipe:

Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes about 24 cookies
Ingredients2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
12 tbsp/1½ sticks unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 cup packed light brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 tsp vanilla extract
1½ cup semisweet chocolate chips (just dump the whole bag)

Adjust the oven racks to the upper- and lower-middle positions and heat the oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl.In a large bowl, beat the melted butter and sugars together with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, 1 or 2 minutes. Beat in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla until combined, about 30 seconds, scraping down the bowl and beater as needed.

Reduce the mixer speed to low and slowly add the flour mixture until combined, about 30 seconds. Mix in the chips until incorporated. Working with 2 tablespoons of dough at a time, roll the dough into balls and lay them on the prepared baking sheets, spaced about 2 inches apart. Bake the cookies, one sheet at a time, until the edges are set and beginning to brown but the centers are still soft and puffy, 8-10 minutes.

While at Target the other day, I tossed a couple of bags of chocolate chips into my cart (they kept the butter company) and decided to make cookies...and I just used the recipe on the back of the bag. I forgot that I had another recipe I loved. Look what happened! Plain, crispy, dry and disappointing cookies.

I might still miss the occasional dentist appointment, forget the dates Matt tells me, and fail to wish you a Happy Birthday (I am terrible about forgetting birthdays. I hate that about myself), but I can tell you one thing, I won't be forgetting about my beloved cookie recipe.

an interesting fact about cookies...no matter how good or how bad a recipe and the results are, they all last two days in this house. No matter how "bad" a cookie is, a "bad" cookie still trumps "no" cookie...

so many reasons

2011-06-14T11:34:00.000-07:00

There are so many reasons that I love the pool. This morning, the kids fought over where to sit, what spoons to use, what cereal to eat, whose day it was the pick the breakfast time show, what dolls to play with, who was allowed to play, someone was hitting someone so someone else pushed them back, etc. As soon as my coffee was finished, I packed a lunch and uttered the magic words that change my children from angry warriors to loving siblings, "let's get your swimsuits on". Those five little words are mood altering. I thickly apply sunscreen (to them mind you), grab our flip flops and towels, and we walk down to the pool. Very rarely is it crowded, we often see friends there, and for three or four magical hours my biggest complaint from them is that I didn't bring enough food (I'm learning that kids eat about three times as much food at the pool as they do at home). I love that we are away from the television. I love that my kids enjoy each other's company. I love that we are outdoors. I am not going to lie, I like getting a little color on my pale skin. I love that when we get home, we have a snack and a nap. I love how soundly the kids sleep at night. I love that we have no where else to be all summer. Meet us at the pool!