FO Friday: Easter Outfits

In my last FO Friday post, I mentioned that I made a skirt for my niece.  Well, I did.  And a little more...

I didn't end up doing a WIP Wednesday post because I had been so busy making stuff I forgot to write about it.  I made matching Easter outfits for my niece and nephew.  I can't wait to see them in these!  I tried them on Ellie to see how they fit.  The funny part is that both outfits fit Ellie even though one is 12 month size and the other is a 3T shirt.  Ellie actually fits in 12 month clothes.  The 3T shirt was too big, but I tucked it into the skirt so you can't really tell.  She wasn't a very cooperative model, it was mostly me chasing her around the house with the camera.

First up, my niece's outfit:

I made the skirt from scratch.  It's a circle skirt, which is one of the easiest things to make, great for beginners (or people like me who just haven't sewed in a really long time).  One of these days I might make a tutorial.  But for today you just get pictures.  The waist band is just the exposed elastic.  I picked the gray suiting fabric because it's a good neutral.  She can wear it with any t-shirt all summer long.  Plus it's lightweight, so it makes the shape of the circle skirt fun and bouncy.

For the shirt, I found a plain white shirt second hand.  I really should have taken a before/after shot of this shirt.  It already had the color, but the sleeves were full length.  I shortened them to be elbow length, but retained the original hem using this method.  Then (after hours of contemplating) I added the ribbon down the middle and the bow at the neckline.  I think it gives it a 1960s mod look.  

Wearing here daddy's shoes.

When you put the whole outfit together on our rambunctious little model it looks like a prep school uniform.  I love how it turned out!

Next up, my nephew's outfit:

Both his pants and onesie were found second hand.  The onesie was the most challenging part, but I knew exactly what I wanted and I think it turned out great.  I cut the tie out of the gray fabric and ironed on some interfacing to help it stiffen.  That way it would hold its shape better when I sewed it to the onesie.  Then I pinned the ribbon to the front to look like suspenders.  I'm not sure how other people sew onto a onesie, but it is not easy!  It looks like a balled up mess while you're working, but somehow (assuming you pinned everything well), it all works out in the end.  

The plan was to sew a little strip of ribbon onto the pocket of his pants, but after several tries on the sewing machine, several more tries by hand, some serious fray of the ribbon, and two broken needles, I gave up.  The pocket ribbon was not meant to be.  *Sigh*

I think she looks pretty cute in a tie.

When Ellie tried on the outfit she was wild.  I mean, seriously wild.  Trying to get a picture was challenge because she was running from one end of the house to the other.  These are just a few that I got that weren't terribly blurry.

I had a couple other ideas to add to their outfits, but there wasn't enough time.  At some point I really want to make my nephew a little newsie cap and I had all the materials to make my niece a matching headband (with ribbon wrapped around the headband), but can you believe I don't own a glue gun!?  I don't!  I have no idea how I got this far without owning a glue gun.  I foresee a trip to the store in my near future.  She might get that headband after all, just not in time for Easter. 

The original plan was to make Ellie an outfit to match as well, but we won't be seeing them at Easter, so I slacked on Ellie's outfit.  I'll finish it at a later date and hopefully I'll update with a picture of the three cousins!

UPDATE:

Here they are in all their cuteness!

Mommy Monday: Playdough

Ellie LOVES playdough.  LOVES.  When I was little my mom used to make playdough for us.  Ellie was still pretty little when I considered giving her playdough to squish.  I figured, if she ate it*, at least it was homemade, right?

I use this recipe: Homemade Playdough Recipe.  It is so perfect.  It's super soft and cooks so fast.  I made our third batch just the other day.  We have done different colors with each batch (I just happen to have a gigantic store of food coloring from past cake projects).

*For the record, she definitely ate some.  She has tried it a couple more times.  Apparently it still tastes gross.

FO Friday: Master bedroom progress and pillow!

This week I decided I was going to work on our master bedroom.  Our house is small and our master bedroom isn't really any bigger than the other bedrooms, it just happens to have a half bath.  I have a "vision" for most of the rooms in the house, but for our room I just feel completely uninspired.

 I painted the walls a pale teal color because I love that color, but beyond that I just didn't know where to go.  I tried to find inspiration online, but it's frustrating when all other master bedrooms are the size of my entire house.  I have yet to find a specific inspiration room, and I'm still rather stuck on what to do, so I decided to start with just cleaning it.  Like, really cleaning.  I think I neglect our room a lot.  No one sees it, it's just not high on my priority list.

I bought an area rug to attempt to make it a little cozier and I rearranged (for probably the 30th time).

I eventually want to get rid of the TV/dresser and put a full length mirror.  The shelf with all our games is only in here temporarily because I'm trying to keep it out of Ellie's reach (tiny game pieces are probably not the best toy for a toddler who still loves to put things in her mouth), so that will eventually go and I'm debating whether or not to keep the recliner in our room, or find a smaller chair for that corner.  I'd like to get a bench for the foot of the bed and, oh, let's talk about the bed.  I want a real bed.  Like, a real bed, with a headboard, like a grown up would have.  But I am completely stumped on style.  I have no idea what I want and, believe me, I have looked.

So right now I'm fine with a clean room, I finally got a couple of pictures on the wall (not sure if that's their permanent home, but it works for now) and I made a pillow for the bed!

I found this orange fabric in the remnant bin at the fabric store.  I've had it for probably a year.  I knew I wanted to make pillows out of it when I bought it, but I never got around to it.  Yesterday Nick was home so I got to do a few sewing projects.  At the last minutes I decided to add the piping, which I had on hand for a different project.  I plan to make two pillows, one for each side, but I only had enough piping for one, so the second pillow will have to wait.  I love how it turned out.  It's the first time I've used piping on anything and I love how it gives it a finished, store bought quality.

Oh, I also made a skirt for my niece.  More on that later...

Ramblings: The Grocery Store

Ok, i finally made my list and went to the store.  I don't know why this has become such a chore.  I hate making a grocery list and I always irrationally panic that I've left something off, as if I can never go back to the store again.
Lately I've been craving salty snacks, but I'm trying to eat healthy.  I bought Triscuits as my salty snack.  Oh, and pretzels, but I don't really like pretzels (I don't really like Triscuits either.  I wanted potato chips).  I managed to walk away from the pudding and cheesecake mixes in the bakery aisle that were calling my name.  Like, really loudly calling my name.  I also had chocolate chips on my list in case I felt the urge to make cookies, but I didn't buy them.  Mostly because there was a guy in the way and Ellie was getting fussy, so I just gave it up.  Whatever works, I guess...

Nick brought home some frozen par-cooked tempura chicken (he brings home random free food sometimes).  We've been slowly eating it.  I made stir fry with it one night.  Ellie has been eating for lunch.  I'm going to make mac n cheese and have tempura chicken with it.  Not super healthy, but definitely easy.  He's also going to bring home french fries and so one night we'll have more tempura chicken and some french fries.  I try to be healthy, but free food definitely makes me willing to stray from my rules because in the end I'm just really lazy.

I really want to try the chocolate cake from Pinterest where you take a cake mix and add one cup of greek yogurt.  I'm curious, but I have a rule about only going to the store once a week.  I don't go back, unless absolutely necessary.  We'll see if chocolate cake becomes absolutely necessary....

Oh and I bought beer.  There go all my calories.

WIP Wednesday: The Etsy Shop

I have recently decided to open an Etsy shop.  I have a ridiculous stash of fabric and yarn and all these grand plans for projects.  I thought that opening an Etsy shop might force me to finally finish said projects.  So far the plan is working, although it is taking longer than I thought it would.  It's really hard to knit with a 2 year old around.  With all the meal-making, playdough-playing and story-reading, it's really hard to find time to knit.  I always have big plans to knit during nap time, but by then the house is disaster and I'm exhausted.  

I love knitting, but no one ever explained how relaxing it is.  Three rows in and I'm ready for a nap.  It's very similar to reading.  I want to stay awake, but if I sit still for more than 20 minutes I'm going to fall asleep.  That's why I never go to the movies...
I have a goal to have items for sale in the Etsy shop by the end of the month.  I'm not generally good at reaching goals, but I'm trying to do better this year.  So check back in a couple weeks and you might find a link to an Etsy shop!

Ramblings: Exercise (or lack there of)

I worked out for almost an hour today while Ellie napped.  Thirty minutes on the elliptical and then some crunches and stuff.  My stomach is finally getting smaller, but it seriously needs to be toned.  I still feel like a whale most of the time.  I can't seem to get under 180.  It's incredibly frustrating and I'm tempted to try something more extreme with my diet.  Although I'm not sure what I can do on a limited grocery budget...

I'm mostly just tired of eating.  I know that sounds really weird, but once I get dinner made and clean up after, I have no desire to actually eat it.

So, I've been doing sit ups like this.  At first I did them holding a 5 lb medicine ball because it gave me enough momentum to actually sit up.  I hadn't realized how completely non-existant my abs were until I tried to do a crunch.  Not even a sit up, just a crunch.  I'm tempted to take pictures of my stomach, like progress pictures.  Maybe write about it on here.  Depends on how much progress I actually make, especially since no one wants to see that.

Other than that I'm just doing the elliptical, some planks, stretching, a few push ups.  

Oh!  I did plies using the back of my couch the other day.  Holy crap.  My legs hurts for days.  Days.  As in plural.  I guess if it hurts it's working, right?  It didn't hurt during, at all.  It felt easy, actually.  But the next day...wow.

So maybe if all this totally random compilation of exercises works, I'll let you know.  I'm pretty sure any crazy compilation of exercise works as long as you actually do it regularly.

I do really want to start running, but I still have to figure out the "when" of that one.  I don't want to have to take Ellie with me, I want "going for a run" to be a me-time thing.  So my only real opportunities would be on days when Nick closes, which means I wouldn't be running on any kind of regular schedule, but maybe it'll work.  Sometimes I feel like I would rather run than get on the elliptical.  I wish we could have gotten a treadmill, and I guess eventually we could but then we're making space for two gigantic machines.  I wasn't looking to have a home gym.
I am borrowing my sister in law's jogging stroller, so maybe that will work for now.  

Mommy Monday: Going for a hike

We have had really great weather the last couple of days, so I've tried to take full advantage of that and get Ellie outside as much as possible.  This can be tricky, as she takes really long naps, so I have to make sure we get out in the morning.  I pack lunch and we try to get out the door by 9:00am.  (I realize I could go earlier, but I am not a morning person.  9:00 am is as early as it's gonna get.)

Yesterday we just went to the park in town.  I tried to get some pictures of the hat I made for my niece, but Ellie was wild and not particularly cooperative.

 It's supposed to be an over-sized hat, but it's extra over-sized on Ellie because she's little.

Today we loaded up a backpack and the Ergo (in case Ellie got tired) and went to Radnor Lake.  It's a bit of a drive, but it's totally worth it.  We were lucky enough to see an owl as soon as we got there.  He was just chillin' on a branch about three feet from us.  Ellie just stared at him.  I wasn't sure she had even really noticed him.  After he flew away, all she talked about was that owl.  The whole time.  We also saw a wild turkey, a chipmunk, lots of birds, turtles and some ducks.  But Ellie only cared about that owl.

 She got tired trying to find her owl.

Watching the ducks.

Hiking is very hard work...

FO Friday: Hat

I don't have pictures yet, but I did technically finish a project today!  With one hour to spare!  I'm going to break my "no blogging on the weekends" rule and post pictures tomorrow.  Hopefully Ellie will consent to being my model...no promises.

Pattern: Wurm
Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton in Seaspray
Needles: Size 8 circular

I didn't follow the pattern exactly.  I only cast on 80 instead of 90 and I didn't do the increase after the edging.  I also did the edging differently, in stockinette instead of the folded ribbing.  I'm not entirely sure I'm happy with it.  Initially I liked it, but the shape isn't quite what I wanted.  I might make some adjustments, or just make a second one and see which one I like better.

WIP Wednesday: Already Behind

Hey, look at that.  It only took me two weeks to get behind on posting.  Figures.

I forgot to post for Mommy Monday, but I was busy chasing two toddlers instead of my usual one.  Ellie and I had a playdate with one of her little friends.  I watched him for a couple months over the summer when his parents had a lapse in childcare, but we hadn't seen him since Thanksgiving.  They were really excited to get to play together again.  It was so exhausting, they both crashed before their usual naptime.

Today I'm lucky enough to have the husband home, so I get to escape to the fabric store.  Hooray!  I plan to come home with armfuls of yarn and maybe a little fabric.

Projects on the to-do list:

• A knitted stuffed elephant and matching sweater, a gift for my cousin's baby.

• Some fingerless gloves for my friend's birthday

• A hat for my niece

• Fabric for circle skirts for this summer, one each for Ellie and her cousin. 

If you're wondering about the progress on those baby blocks: I accidentally left them at my mother-in-laws house, so....no progress.

Hopefully I'll have a FO on Friday from that list above!  Stay tuned to find out!

FO Friday: Christmas

Yes I know it's February, but I don't have any recent finished projects.  

So, until I do, you get old ones that I never posted.

For Christmas I had a goal to make all of the Christmas gifts.  

I failed.

But I got about half of them done!  So we'll call it a partial win.  

Next year I'll start earlier...

This hat for my father-in-law

A cowl for my dad, for when he rides his motorcycle.

Me modeling the cowl.

 Matching outfits for my niece and nephew.  

Ellie also has a skirt in the same fabric.  

 I was originally going to make this blanket out of granny squares, but decided it would be quicker and more fun to make it out of fleece squares.  I made it for my nephews.  I only made one.  

They have to share it...but I'm sure they'll survive.

I'm really proud of this hat.  I made up the pattern.  I started off thinking I would use a basic hat pattern, but then I decided to just wing it!  It was really fun!  It was for Nick's stepdad, who is a huge UT Vols fan, which should explain the color choices.

 Stephen wearing his hat on Christmas morning.

 This kiddos wearing their matching outfits

I should have fixed the lighting issue...

 My dad being a goofball with his neckwarmer.

The boys and their blanket (the other two boys are underneath it somewhere).

I also made a scarf for my sister-in-law and put together a Shutterfly photo book for my parents (not pictured).  So I may not have finished everything I wanted to accomplish, but when I put it all together on this post, it feels pretty significant.

Happy Valentine's Day!

What we did on Valentine's Day:

Ellie got dressed.

Ellie and I painted a Valentine for her daddy.

We made cupcakes and took them to friends.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!


What did you do to celebrate Valentine's Day?

Mommy Monday: Cleaning Toys

It's flu season.  Fortunately, it has not hit our house.  However, sinus and ear infections have.  If there's one thing I know, toddlers are germ factories.  Especially toddlers that play with other toddlers, aka Daycare.  I grew up in a daycare.  Literally.  My mom owned and operated a fully licensed daycare out of our home my entire childhood, and then some.  I may be a first time mom, but if there is one lesson I learned from my mom and her daycare it is this:

CLEAN YOUR KIDS' TOYS!

I will admit, I don't do this as often as I should, but I try to do it at least once a month.  If you can find the time, it's better to do it once a week.  If your child is sick, or has recently had a friend over who is sick, clean the toys immediately.  The Bean currently has an ear infection.  I cleaned her toys last night while she was asleep.  I was awake anyway dispensing regular doses of Tylenol and Motrin to keep her fever down.  So why not use that time to clean toys, right?  

It can be a tedious job, but it really does help keep those crazy toddler germs at bay.  This is what I do:

1. Separate out all the toys.  Soft, fluffy toys such as stuffed animals go in one pile.  Hard plastic or wooden toys go in another.  I also have a pile for books because we have a ton.

2. Fill your bathtub with water.  Add bleach.  I use a ratio of 1/2 cup of bleach for every gallon of water because that is what is recommended by Clorox.  Place all the non-porous, hard toys in the bathtub.  I usually leave out the wooden toys because Ellie's are painted and while the bleach probably won't hurt the seal, I don't want to take that chance.  Also, any toys that are battery powered or have a mechanical device of some kind should NOT go in the water.  

Soak the toys in the tub for 5 minutes.  Then rinse and let air dry.  If you can, just spread a couple towels on the floor of the bathroom and lay the toys out in a single layer overnight. (Don't forget about bath toys!)

3. Now for the fluffies.  These guys are going in the washer.  My washer has a "hand wash" setting, so I use that, but I'm pretty sure most stuffed animals can handle the regular cycle.  Important note: if the stuffed animal has some kind of device I don't put it in the washer.  For example, Ellie has a Big Bird that sings the ABCs, he does not go in the washer.  

I wash the stuffed animals in warm water, with regular detergent (we use All Free and Clear) and then dry them on the lowest heat setting.  You can air dry them, but you might want to put them through at least a short cycle first to fluff them.

Some of the stuffed animals after being washed and dried.

4. Last, the most boring part.  Get a container of disinfecting wipes, gather up all the remaining toys and put on your favorite TV show or movie.  The next step is simple, wipe down everything.  I wipe down all of the wooden blocks, any of the stuffed animals that couldn't be washed, the outside covers of her books and all of her board books.  Be careful with the books, don't saturate them too much.  If you need to, wait a few seconds to let the disinfectant work and then dry them with a paper towel.  Just remember, the disinfectant won't work if you immediately wipe it off.  Don't forget to wipe down any large items as well: table and chairs, doll stroller, kitchen set, etc (yours might be more boy-related, but you get the idea).

 Blocks and other toys that I wiped down with Clorox wipes.

Most of these could have soaked in the bleach solution, but I ran out of bleach.

Now you just sit back and wait for everything to dry!  Or go to bed, because it might be really late...

All clean and put away! 

(These shelves only look like this when Ellie is asleep)

This is a big task, but it helps.  If your child has a ton of toys and this job just seems too daunting, here are a couple of tips:

• Play in batches.  Consider limiting the toys your child plays with.  If they are really into a certain group of toys right now, but totally ignoring another, put those unwanted toys away for a few months.  Then when you get them back out, it'll be like Christmas morning!  (Or if you get them back out and they still don't care, donate them!  Less clutter!  Win-win!)  This way when you do clean toys, you're cleaning less and you know which ones your child regularly plays with.
• The Plastic Bin Method When your child is sick, you should try to clean his/her toys every day, but there is no way I could clean all of Ellie's toys every night for the rest of this week.  I need sleep!   So another option is to put favorite toys in one big plastic bin and eliminate the others.  Just take them out of play.  That way at the end of the day those are the only toys you have to clean.  I realize this might be a battle, but you can be flexible.  If she really wants a toy I didn't include in the bin, she can have it, she just can't have all of them.
• Maintain Healthy Habits This is just a general rule.  If you maintain healthy habits, and teach your toddler to do the same, it should keep some germs at bay.  Teach children early about washing their hands.  I know it's easy to just clean Ellie myself, and I still catch myself doing it when I'm in a hurry.  However, she will learn more if I take her over to the sink and show her how to wash her hands with soap and water.  In addition, while sharing is an important lesson, certain things should not be shared: cups, silverware, half-eaten snacks.

I hope these tips will help you kick those toddler germs out of the house and keep the doctors visits at a minimum!

FO Friday: My First Sweater

Welcome to FO (Finished Object) Friday!

 This was my first time knitting a sweater and my third time knitting anything!  I was so happy with the result.  In fact, I was too excited during the knitting to stop and check the gauge, which I hear is really important.  But the final product fit, so I'm happy!  

I actual made this back in September, but since I'm super behind on my blog, I might as well catch you up on the projects I've already finish, right?

Here are a few pictures of the Bean wearing her sweater.  She wasn't super cooperative about pictures, so I got what I could.  Apparently this sweater is good for all sorts of activities, including:

Reading

Lounging

Singing

and chewing on your pajamas...

Specs

Pattern: Nature Baby Kimono by Lion Brand Yarn

Yarn: stash (seriously, I have no idea what yarn I used, I've probably had it for a decade)

Needles: size 8 SPN