Monday, February 22, 2010

Old Jeans Quiet Book


I am LOVING this quiet book! Isn't it adorable? I love that most of these things are favorite things of my little honey, and you could change the fabric or a some of the pages to fit your child's favorite things...girl or boy! I just wish I could sew fast enough to keep up with all the projects I've been finding lately...
Thanks Thimbly Things!

Sweater Vest


As the mother of a little boy, I have been LOVING the Celebrate the Boy month over at Made and Made by Rae blogs! Today I discovered this darling vest from a sweater! I was just wishing yesterday that I could make my little boy a vest--he is so darling in them. Now to find the perfect old sweater...

Friday, February 19, 2010

Indoor Tents


How fun are these two tent ideas??? I am definitely going to make one of these for my little honey sometime soon! I think I like the tee-pee idea better, which one do you like?

These pictures and ideas were found at Obsessively Stitching. Thanks for the tutorials!

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Thoughts on Love



"Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own." ~ Robert Heinlein

"To love a person means to see them as God intended them to be" ~ Dostoevski

"True love is not so much a matter of romance as it is a matter of anxious concern for the well being of one’s companion" ~ Gordon B. Hinckley

Friday, February 12, 2010

Snow Cream





How fun is this idea? I wish it would snow so we could try this out!!

Too Cute


I la-la-LOVE this camera strap!! And guess what...you can make one for yourself! Find the tutorial here.

Love Stories

Guess How Much I Love You

Cover scan of No Matter What

I have loved the book Guess How Much I Love You? ever since I was first introduced to it in a Spanish class...we obviously read it in Spanish and I loved it. Here are a couple other great love books to read to your little one...or maybe even your significant other. I love the idea of giving children's books with meaningful words to Mr. Wonderful...I did it for Christmas when we were dating. :)

So Cute


I am totally in love with this skirt! Too bad I don't have a girl to make one for...can I make one for myself? I found this tutorial at So What Simple from Disney at Ruffles and Stuff.

Here's the tutorial:

1: Using a skirt from your daughter's closet, measure the waistband, and cut a length of elastic that length.
2:Then measure the height of the skirt, and all the way around the bottom of the skirt. This will be the measurement for your skirt liner piece.
Add about three inches to the height, and that will be your measurement for your outer skirt piece. (i.e.: a 2T skirt is about 12"x40", with a 9"x40" liner.)
3: Fold over the long edges of both your pieces about .5", and press.
4: Hem one edge of each piece.
5: Baste (sew a long straight stitch) the raw edge of your liner onto the folded, raw edge of your skirt piece. Your liner hem should be facing downward, and your skirt hem upward.
6: After basting, fold your liner down onto your skirt piece, so the liner and skirt hems are both facing upward. Laying your elastic down as a guide, fold the basted edge over to make elastic casing, and pin.
7: Slide elastic out, and sew along pinned edge.
8: Cut 2-3 times your skirt length, of 6" wide tulle. (it's ok if the length is broken up in a few pieces), then fold the tulle over (width-wise), and sew a basting stitch down the length of the raw edge.
9: Pull the bottom thread to gather evenly, until your tulle matches the length of the skirt. Sew on to the under side of the liner, making sure your basting stitch doesn't peek below the hem.
10: Put the two sides of the skirt together (right sides facing) and pin. Then sew up the side, stopping right before the elastic casing.
11: Safety pin one end of your elastic to one end of the casing for stability. Then put another safety pin in the opposite end of your elastic, and use it to slide the elastic through the casing. Then sew the two ends together.
12: After sewing the elastic, try the skirt on if possible to make sure the waist fits. Then fold one edge of casing over the other, and sew closed, over elastic.

All done!

Time to relax!

And enjoy the fruits of your labor :o)

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Olympic Rings


I have been trying to find some fun thing we could do to celebrate the Olympics, other than just watch them. We are big fans of homemade pizza at our house, and so when I saw this idea I was so excited! Why didn't I think of that? How fun! There is also a cake version of this idea here.
*Since I love Valentine's so much, you know I won't forget a heart shaped pizza! If interested, please see here.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Apple of My Eye


Isn't this idea so adorable? Growing up, my parent's idea of taking our family to 'eat out' was to go to McDonald's...where my Dad would always get their hot apple pies. I still love little apple pies. My Mom would frequently buy both apple and cherry turnovers from the bakery and I miss having those, they were so delicious! These remind me of both! And there is even a pdf file to make the cute little boxes as well! So cute.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Traditions

valentine
I found this fun list of ideas for family Valentine's day traditions. To see the list go here.

Fortunes, forecasts, lucky charms...


Today it's been all about fortune cookies! They've been everywhere! You can watch a video with additional written instructions here, or find a slightly different version of the recipe here, and lastly find a tutorial on how to make your own tiny Chinese take out boxes here. I guess I know what I am going to give Mr. Wonderful for Valentine's Day...

Rollie-Pollie


I found this so, so, so fun idea from MADE. I can't wait to make one of these for my little munchkin!

Fresh Flowers

I really love this bouquet, is so beautiful! I would love to have this in our home! You can order it from Campus Craft and Floral.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Search for Chocolate


I remember when I was a teenager receiving Mrs. Field's Chocolates for Valentine's Day from my mom one year...they were the best chocolates I had ever had! Well, I've been trying to find them this year...and no luck. This is the only place I can find them online, and I'm always a little wary about websites I've never heard of? Especially since the official Mrs. Fields website doesn't even have them! Has anyone else ever had Mrs. Field's Chocolates? Know where to find them if they even exist anymore? What are your favorite type of chocolates?

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Valentine Mobile

I totally love this idea! I really want to make it, but it will probably have to wait for another year, since I don't have any of the supplies needed! But isn't it amazing? You can find the instructions here.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Creative Ways to say I Love You

I love trying to think of ways to show my honey that I love him...here are some fun ideas you might want to try for your valentine this year! Whether that be your significant other, child, friend, or someone else!

Studio 5 Contributor Alisa Bangerter shares some great ideas that will be sure to warm the heart of your Valentine and bring a big smile to their face. These ideas are not only great for Valentine's Day but many can be adapted to use all year long.

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• Write a "101 reasons why I love you" or "101 reasons why you are special to me" list. Roll it up and wrap it with a ribbon or place in a pretty envelope and send it in the mail.

• Place glow in the dark stars on the ceiling of the recipient's bedroom. Spell out a message or make a big heart.

• Write a fun poem about the recipient expressing your love. Remember it does not have to be perfect - it's the thought that counts!

• Change the words of a well-known song and personalize it for the recipient. Sing it to them. If singing is not your thing, make a personalized CD of favorite romantic songs.

• Take a photo of yourself holding a sign with a message and place the photo on the recipient's screensaver or send the photo to them in the mail.

• Leave a trail of chocolate kisses for the recipient to find to a gift or note. This is fun to do so it is found when they wake up.

• Learn to say "I love you" in different languages and practice saying them often.

• Place an ad in a newspaper and have it placed in the section you know the recipient will read. The classifieds might be fun - place things in the ad that are specific to the recipient and that only they would know.

• Plant a tree and place a small plaque by it stating who the tree is dedicated to.

• Write a message in the snow. Just use a spray bottle and red food color mixed with water. If you live where there is sand, write a message in the sand. If you live where it is warm, mow a message in the lawn. You get the idea…..

• Write messages with sidewalk chalk at home or where the recipient might go.

• Write messages on cut-out paper hearts or use Post-It Notes (use the whole pad!). Place the hearts or notes in creative places where the recipient will find them. Think out of the box a bit for this. Place them in places such as in a sock, inside a bag of chips or box of cereal, inside a sandwich, in a tool box, on the remote, inside a DVD, under the lid of the toilet, in a pill bottle, in the golf clubs, in a book the recipient is reading, on the sun visor in the car, etc.

• Place hearts or messages on a sun visor for the recipient to find.


• Roll up messages and place in balloons. Blow up the balloons and tie shut. Place numerous balloons in the shower and place a note that states: "You have been showered with love!" An option would be to hang a bunch of hearts from the showerhead or place hearts on the walls of the shower.

• Do the "14 Days of Valentines" for someone. Start February first and give a small item/note/gift each day until the 14th which is Valentine's Day. Do this anonymously or reveal the giver at the end.

• Use bath crayons to write a message on the shower walls.

• Do "25 reasons I love you." Send a reason each day in the mail or e-mail one a day. This could also be put in a lunch box each day.

• Place a candy conversation heart in a lunchbox everyday just to remind the recipient of your love. Do this the entire year.

• Personalize fortune cookies with love notes or special messages.

• Bake a cake. Before frosting the cake, wrap love notes or cute jokes in foil. Cut slits in the cake and insert them in. Frost.


• Take the "Heart Attack" idea (placing numerous hearts everywhere and saying you have just been given a "heart attack") and do it in a creative way. For example. Place big hearts over the entire front of a house. Another fun idea is to cover an entire car with hearts.

• Place hearts or messages on strings and attach to the bottom of a garage door. When the recipient comes home and opens the garage door the hearts or messages will hang from the bottom of the door.

• Write messages on mirrors or windows using soap. Soap will clean up easily. Washable poster paint can be used to paint on windows as well.

• Create a secret hand signal that means "I Love You."

• Write a message in the steam of a fogged up mirror while the person is in the shower.

• Place a chocolate on the pillow of your sweetheart.

• Kiss a bathroom mirror with lipstick on. This is fun when the recipient finds the mirror covered with "kisses."

• Place real or artificial rose petals in a bath or between bed sheets.

• Place a big banner with a message in a yard or along side a road the recipient will travel by and will see.

• Tape crepe paper streamers hanging down from the top of a doorway to create a "curtain." This is fun to do for a child so when they wake up their doorway is covered. Use red, white, pink and purple streamers.

• Add red food coloring to milk. Use a small brush to "paint" a heart or simple message on a piece of bread. Place bread in toaster and then watch as the fun message is enhanced.

• Create a treasure hunt with fun notes or small gifts at each clue. A fun idea might be you at the end of the hunt!

• Remember that food can be used as a fun way to express love. Cut food items into hearts such as peppers, breadsticks, brownies, sandwiches, toast, pancakes, etc. You can also use ingredients such as ketchup or melted chocolate to write a simple message on top of a food item. Food can also be shaped into hearts such as meatloaf and pizza. Another fun option would be to place a big heart made of pasta on a platter and fill it with marinara sauce. Make heart-shaped ice cubes (trays are available at specialty stores) or place candy hearts or red hots in ice cubes. The food possibilities are endless

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The possibilities are endless!!! Be creative and have fun!


Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Check this out...

Recently I have totally loved cupcakes! I have tried my hand at making homemade gourmet cupcakes, but how much better it would be to win some! To see all the details and to enter a dozen cupcakes from Cupcake Chic, please go to the Coterie blog here.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Sweet and Salty

I want to try this recipe sometime soon! Thanks Rachel Ray!

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup popcorn kernels
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon coarse salt

Directions:

  1. In a large pot with a tight-fitting lid, heat the oil over medium-high heat. add the popcorn. When the oils sizzles, sprinkle the sugar over the kernels. Cover and shake the pan until the popping slows down, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and toss with the salt.