taking a break...

Hello whoever out there reads my blog! I have been, and will continue taking a break from blogging here for awhile. Life has been super crazy this year and with the holidays coming I just don't see myself blogging much. I'll be adding to my Alice costume blog as I continue work on that. Which should be more often as I'm hoping to finish up the vest by Christmas. but I think I'll delete my home blog as I really just don't keep up with that. Anyway, so that's that. hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving and enjoy the coming holidays!

little critters

I've been steadily working away at this fun project for my sister's baby shower coming up in Oct. I'm making things for decorations that can also be used in the babies room after the party. So it all matches the bedding she picked out.



These are little wall stickers of the animals and such that the bedding features and you can view the entire room collection here on Babies R Us.


So I got the idea to make some of the little animals out of paper mache to set around on the table looking cute which can then be set on a shelf to look cute later. :) I got lots of good tips from this segment on Martha Stewart.
And so, started with making bases for my critters out of cardboard.



This is the fox and one of three owls, two little and one bigger.


Here is the bear after a first layer of paper mache. He was a bit more technical to figure out, I used a Styrofoam ball for the head and backs of the ears on a base of cardboard. but despite the lightweight Styrofoam he was top heavy and falling forward so I raided my husband's garage and came up with some very heavy washers which I placed in his hips to counter balance him.


and here you see a much more filled out bear, an owl and fox still in the process of building up and not pictured here but I also did as much with the other two owls and a raccoon.



I think one more night of paper mache will give everyone a finished plumpness and then I can move on to the paper clay step. I can't wait to start painting them though! they're gonna be so cute!!!

and here's a sneak peak at my next project for the shower...

delayed blogging

I've been meaning to do this post for over a week now, indeed even uploaded the photos but then blogger froze up and I couldn't finish it. :(


Anyhow, I started home schooling Gabriel this year, we've been at it about 3 weeks now. We do a lot of little projects, coloring, painting, making and play learning games to make it fun and interesting. And lots of reading too when I can get him to sit still and listen! :)
This project was to learn how mixing colors makes new colors. We started with the primary colors of course and made green, purple and eventually a nice brown! He had so much fun playing scientist with his baster that I had a hard time getting him to stop after nearly and hour.





We've also been learning about spiders as there are many in our area at the moment, providing lots of fun study material. So of course making spiders was a given!
(ps, those pants are re-purposed from a shirt of mine I just never blogged cause we've been busy!)


busy doing what you ask? well aside from school, keeping the house clean and all the normal mom duties I've been planning my sister Erin's baby shower which is now a couple weeks away. I'll be sharing more on that soon I promise! but for now here's a peek at the invitations I made...

a repurposed dress for the bean

(with way too many pictures cause she's just too cute!)




The bottom half is a top I'd had for awhile but never really wore and the top half was made from a red Christmas camisole I never wore due to the sparkly candy canes on the front. And I'm dreadful and remembering to take before pictures.





It's so soft and comfy so she likes wearing it which is a wonderful plus!



The ruffles were fun and so easy to make, I think I'll be doing a lot more detail stuff like that in future projects.





The back has a gathered section and I love how it flows and hangs.




Thanks for looking, more re-purposing of old clothing into new soon to come!

Our pet dragon

Today we made a quick trip to Target to pick up some diapers for Gwendolyn, on our way into the store I noticed Gabriel holding his hand out flat like he was holding something so I asked him if there was something in his hand. He told me, quite frankly, that it was a small dragon. The dragon went with us all through Target and rode in the back on the way home. And so I thought I'd capture this amazing new pet on video for all of you to see! enjoy :)

I did it again!

I've started another blog! ahhhh!!!! (I'm blaming it on my friend Anna who also has numerable blogs to keep them interest organized) It's all costumes! I'd done one similar before but didn't like the host so abandoned it and now I'm back but keeping with blogger cause I enjoy it's simplicity. Anyhow, go check it out if you're at all interested in costumes.
The Confessions of a Costume Addict

big kids

It happens so gradually really, but as a parent you feel like you blink and suddenly your life is so different from what it was a moment ago. For while I can look back over the past 4 1/2 years of my motherhood and remember many sweet and not so sweet moments and fully realize that those years have passed...it still feels like yesterday I had a preemie baby in my arms, with nothing better to do with my time but hold him and admire his cuteness. Or our trip to see Daddy graduate from boot camp. Welcoming Daddy home to meet his 3 month old daughter. Watching Gabriel take his first steps in our kitchen...and just two years later the same with Gwendolyn.

The point is, as we sat at the counter eating our lunch today, I looked at my kids and blink, they are suddenly so grown up! I am fully aware that this will happen continually throughout our lives, and that the next time I blink they'll be in jr. high or something crazy! :) But I'll continue to enjoy each moment and stage of life that we're in. Because it really does go by so fast.
on a mommy must brag note, Gabriel is now sleeping through the night without pull ups! and I have ordered a special dinosaur related prize to celebrate the event. I've also decided to start potty training Gwendolyn. I guess the thought of not having to buy pull ups any more got me thinking about not having to buy diapers one day. The things that motivate, I tell ya! :)

drooling...

I know not everyone who reads my blog is as in love with historical fashions as I am but every once in awhile I just can't help it and must post such things on here.
Such as this video on you tube of a costume exhibit in Italy.
Truly drool worthy stuff I tell you! happy sigh :)

My beloved husband...

I thought I'd share some pictures of my beloved. He is entered in a beard competition with multiple categories; most stylish and handsome, worst, most creative etc...
thus the bearded man before you.


He likes having facial hair and so takes any opportunity to grow it since the Navy has rules on such things. Anyway that was not really why I'm posting just thought I'd fill you in. :)


the reality is I wanted to show you the man I love, and just say to world how wonderful he is! I'm always amazed how much closer we grow when he is gone, absence truly does make the heart grow fonder.


My man is honest and of integrity, he is shy and reserved in his affections but loves deeply. (and he loves ME!) He has a beautiful sense of humor which balances my sometimes all too serious and deep thinking, emotional self. He always brings me back to the present moment and puts a smile on my face. He's a wonderful father, and my best friend.

He loves jeeps, guns, playing in water and movies. His smile warms my heart. He loves the Lord. He hates to be tickled but loves to laugh. He serves our country with honor and pride. He likes to surprise me, whether that be with purchased made for himself or for me, news about something, or simple scaring me out of my wits! :) He enjoys photography. He has a wonderful brain for problem solving and often comes up with brilliant ideas at work and at home.
He's someone I praise God for everyday, am blessed to spend the rest of my life with, respect, and love with all my heart.

Over Due....

This summer has been much busier than I had anticipated and when I get busy things like blogging fall to the way side. So here is Gwendolyn's belated 2nd birthday post.


The pretty birthday girl...

big brother who was just as excited

siblings!

Time to open some presents...

and then try them on of course! (she's my little shoe baby)

OH! The excitement!!! funny part? she picked this out for herself the night before. Sad part? It didn't survive a month, Gabriel dumped a bottle of hair de-tangling spray on it and it no long plays music like it should.

But on to the feasting! They were waiting so patiently I had to capture it. :)

She didn't blow, just dove right in and started licking, don't worry I wished something nice for her :)

Brother was careful not to get anything on his "pink strap", his name for this particular tie.

mmmmmm....it's too yummy not to eat with your hands! who has time for a fork?

We used some small tea cups my mom gave us for the milk, I look forward to the tea parties we shall have in the future.

The sweet girl even offered to clear her dishes!

After getting cleaned up it was time to play

And so passed the day when my baby turned 2.


As for all the other things keeping us busy...
We threw a beautiful bridal shower for my dear friend Jessica, you can read about it here on my sister Emily's blog. we spent 4th of July with family, I turned 24. Jessica and Brandon's wedding weekend went wonderfully, if you want to see pictures click here and here. She was stunning and the photographers were awesome! you really should go look.
We spent the week with my Brother Nole and his family then had a bridal shower for my little sister Erin. I don't have any pictures of that because it was Emily who was taking pictures. But I'm sure I'll share them on here eventually, along with her wedding photos, as the wedding is next weekend! And I believe that is a sufficiently long catching up post! :D

ribbon curls...

My dear friend Jessica is getting married, we, my sister Em and I, are throwing her a bridal shower this weekend. I leave tomorrow morning and will be back Monday or Tuesday so I will not be blogging during that time. However hopefully I'll be back with lots of pictures and fun stuff to blog about! :D
I'm off to keep packing! Chow!

short and sweet...

I bought this for the house this weekend...

Target has several different pieces in the recycled green glass on sale and I might go back and pick up a couple of the smaller items...we'll see. but I loved the vase and you can't beat 50% off!

however my main blogging today is paint! so go here.

moral project...

Though I wasn't able to attend the deployment meeting this weekend cause I had company and other things to be doing we still wanted to take part in the moral project being put together for the ship. So I got some details from our ombudsman and...

there it is. an 8"x8" square, they are going to tie them together and make quilts, and then later untie them so each sailor can have his. I must say ours didn't turn out as nice as I'd have liked but it was my first time doing a fabric transfer so I think I scorched the pics a little. :( However I don't have time to make a whole new one so it'll have to do. and I think he'll still like it. I left a little plain spot in the bottom right hand corner so Gabriel can color on it with a crayon if he wants. They said last year they did pillow cases, and that sounds like a lot more fun to me than what we did this time. So I think we might make one on our own and send it in the next package.

busy and boring...

So today was busy but I wasn't doing much to interest really. I mailed a box full of microwave popcorn to my beloved because the kind they have on the ship is "nasty". I cleaned the bathrooms, played with the kids, did dishes, put some random, sitting around the house needing to be put away, stuff away. We went to Lowes and used our rebate card to purchase paint for the living room. So hopefully by Monday I'll be posting pics over on everyday home of my new gray living room!
ya, so that's about it for the interesting blogability of my day. however so this post isn't completely dry I thought I'd share some of how my weekend will be. One of my beautiful sisters, Emily, is coming down in the morning to spend the weekend with me. Hopefully we'll get some painting done but honestly, if we sit and talk the whole time and don't get a thing done that's fine too. :D The only down side to the whole thing is we've been wanting to do a sister weekend and it hasn't worked out yet. so I'll miss having my other girls there as well. :(
So, why the Sephora picture you ask? well our friend Jessica is getting married in a month! So we're going with her tomorrow to Sephora to get some wedding day bridal make up! I'll get some great girly time in and be kid free for a few hours!

but wait!

I just realized I missed two of my favorites :)
Stephmodo (I've loved her blog for awhile now but am enjoying it even more since they are renovating a little cottage in France!)
Design*Sponge

cheating...

Today is day 4 in my blog everyday challenge and I have lots to get done before the weekend so I'm cheating and sending you to look at some of my favorite blogs.
The ones I check on frequently and glean countless inspiring ideas from.
This Young House
Chez Larsson
Pam Garrison
Paint in my hair
Grosgrain
Katie did
Sugar City Journal
Hope you enjoy them as much as I do! Have a happy Thursday :)

Day 3!

Today didn't turn out quite like I had envisioned but I switched gears and pushed through. I was planning on running out and getting some errands done but Gwen decided to have one of her sleeping days so instead we stayed home and did chores!

I worked in my closet and was quite harsh in getting rid of things I don't like or ever wear. and then Gabriel and I washed the car and the jeep.

Once Gwen did wake up I took them out to the park to play so she would go back to sleep at bed time :)

Then we had dinner, read together, baths, Gwen off to bed, Gabriel and I watched a movie...

I got some exercise in and here I am!
However if you'd like to hear more about my closet, head on over to everyday home!

today it came...

Daily blogging challenge day #2

This afternoon I have been working on my skirt, last night I'd sewn up the pleats but by morning decided I didn't like the way it was turning out. As everyone knows, if you don't love it, you won't wear it. And I want to love this skirt!
So, I brought down my dress form and began pinning and playing around to see what I could come up with.

I ended up putting one larger pleat in the front, two small pleats, one on each hip, and lots of little knife pleats in the back. which is what you see pictured.

Earlier in the day I had gone to check the mail and was pleased to fine my package from Amazon had arrived!

I had ordered the book on Terrariums and the newest Enya CD, which although it's the winter/Christmas one and it's now summer, I got anyway. For anyone who really knows me knows how much I adore Enya! I'm excited to sit down and read the book though, I've been wanting it for some time and can't wait to glean knowledge and start making my own little terrariums!
you likely noticed that there are other items in that photo which I did not include in my list of arrivals from Amazon. That is because while I was sewing away the ups man arrived with Two more packages!!! One of which is the book and CD set of "Growing Kids God's Way". I'm really excited to start listening and learning from that one as well.
The third package was from Forever 21...

I have decided that while Nathan is away, and shopping with kids is so difficult that I would try some online shopping. So I got plain white and gray tees (cause I am rather boring), a skirt and top, and a black cardigan which has a lovely lace cutout in the back!(and it all fits!) You'll also notice the pink flower head band and the necklace.

The necklace was a fun find, I liked the poetry of the heart with the anchor seeing as my love is out at sea. And since the heart is a locket I can even put his photo in it! Man I love being a girl! :D
So, it's been a fun day.