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April 30, 2014

OOOOH! Look What I Won!!!



A couple of weeks ago I entered a contest on Facebook and I was one of the winners!!! WOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!! My prize came from Knits & Giggles
I am so excited!!! I was just thinking that I really needed some knit prints!!!! I have a little bit of plain but I really love a great print!!! 

I already have something planned for 2 of the pieces. Colin loves the purple chevron and wants some p.j.s out of it. 



See Cailey's dress???? It's her absolute favorite. She has been asking for more like it. Problem? We bought it at Justice for about $45.... I am hoping to turn the pink hombre animal print into a dress almost exactly like it. 
Wish me luck!!!! LOL

The pink zebra hasn't been claimed yet. Maybe I can make myself something for a change??? Maybe??? 


In more sewing news, I am currently making Cailey another dress from the SquigglyTwigs Pretty Peasant Pattern. I made one Pretty Peasant Tunic with the Quick and Easy Pants capri option. Then in October I made a Halloween dress from the Pretty Peasant Pattern. This time I am making it with an Americana theme. I can't wait to show it to you! :)
I ran into a little problem at first. ALL of my PDF patterns were on my old laptop. They are now GONE!!!! Thankfully I kept the 1 pattern piece you need for the Pretty Peasant. SHEW!!!  

I can't say how absolutely thrilled I am to be sewing again!!!! 


HAVE FUN SEWING!!!!




April 29, 2014

FROGS!! Resources for a Unit Study





I have been wanting to put this unit together for a long time. It's going to be SO MUCH FUN learning about frogs!!!! Spring is the perfect time for this unit!



As always, I try to include resources for a variety of ages.
I am not affiliated in any way with any site. I won't make a dime from any link you click. I just like to give you as many options as possible.

All printable resources are free unless marked with $$$.






Frogs by Gail Gibbons










Frog Song by Brenda Z. Guiberson and Gennady Spirin







lizards, frogs, and polliwogs by Douglas Florian


Scholastic Discover More Reader Level 2: Fantastic Frogs by Penelope Arlon

Frog (Watch Me Grow) by DK Publishing



Frogs for Kids: The Amazing and Wonderful World of Frogs Book (Reptiles and amphibians) by Betty Olsen



































Videos - Nat Geo








Snacks 







Kits and Toys






HAVE FUN LEARNING!!!






April 28, 2014

New Romper Tutorial!




I managed to get something accomplished this weekend! In the midst of a fibro flare for me and a nasty upper respiratory virus for the little ones, I made Cailey a new romper!

I've had that yard of fabric for a very long time. I was never quite sure what I wanted to do with it! Then it hit me, a new romper! :)


I made it differently than I did the Pajama Romper



WHAT I USED

1 Yard of Fabric
1/2" Elastic
2 Packages of Chenille Rick Rack







I had a pattern that I made a while ago. I took a shirt and a pair of shorts that fit Cailey well and used them as a guide.



I folded the fabric in on both sides and then in the middle so I could cut both pieces at the same time






Once you have your 2 pattern pieces, cut the arms out. 
I cut mine a little too long, I think.





With right sides together, pin and sew the middle seams. 
Then open it up and press. 







Pin and sew the leg and crotch seam. Press it when you are done.







There are 2 ways you can do the hems on the legs. I put elastic in mine but I think it would also look cute without them. 
Without the elastic just do the folding and pressing. Then just sew the hem. 





If you want to use elastic, sew a line at the very top. 
Then sew another line, leaving an opening to insert the elastic.






Now, insert the elastic.
Sew the ends together.
Sew the opening closed.







For the top part:
Fold 1/2" and press.
Fold 1" and press.

Sew 2 lines across the top.
Insert the elastic through one end. 
Pin the ends. 
Sew both openings closed while also securing the elastic. 


For the ties you can do many things. 
You can thread a large ribbon through instead of doing the elastic above.
You can use bias tape.


Cailey really wanted me to use the blue chenille rick rack. So, I zigzagged the edges of the armholes. Then I pinned the rick rack in place and sewed it on. 
Easy Peasy! 


Cailey is still sick so I didn't make her pose for pics. My poor baby. :(



Let me know what you think! 
Definitely let me know if you make one! 


HAVE FUN SEWING!!!!!









April 26, 2014

Week in Review - Easter Week 2014





This has been a rather long week for me. The past weekend was fine. Monday was fine... It was after that! Chronic fatigue set in hard. BLECK!!! And now that the week is ending I seem to be going into a fibro flare up. NO FUN!!!!! So, please, please, please excuse me for the lack of posts this week (and possibly into next week). 



Cailey and Colin had a very fun Easter. The day before Easter Cailey and Colin dyed their eggs. They love doing that so much. 
The Easter Bunny came and then the big kids and I hid about 60 eggs for Cailey and Colin to find.




On Monday we went to a VERY nice park that's about 30 minutes from here. I actually used to take the older kids there years and years ago when we lived here before. 
They had a blast! For most of the time they had the entire place to themselves. 


That's just about all that we accomplished this week. The kids watched a lot of educational shows.... Sometimes you do what you have to do... 

Deanna, Cailey and Colin have been suffering from allergies. Thankfully they aren't tooooooo bad yet. 

I do have some sewing that I want to do as soon as this flare up is over. Cailey and Colin are both in need of some warm weather clothing!!! I have a couple of patterns that I want to get to before Cailey grows anymore! LOL As it is she is probably too tall for most of them. She is a size 10 in height but size 10s are always too loose. 



Next week in homeschooling we will start working on our Plants unit and continuing with Pirates (scroll down). 

At some point in the next few days I should be putting up a couple more homeschooling units. 











April 22, 2014

DIY Baby Taggie Toy


I found this idea on Pinterest. I didn't follow that tutorial, instead I made my own. As a matter of fact, I couldn't get the link to click through properly.... BUT I wanted to be sure to give credit for the idea to its source. 



WHAT I USED
Fabric Scraps
Ribbon Pieces
 Yard Stick
   Colored Pencil  

Amount of Time
Maybe 30 mins






I took the yard stick and drew out the letters. I made them about 2 1/2" thick. 
Then I used my rotary cutter to cut them out. 




Then I pinned the ribbon pieces between the front and backs of the letters (right sides of the fabrics together).
I cut the ribbon pieces about 4" long.




After you pin, sew them all together, leaving a space open to turn it all right side out. 

Clip Your Corners!!!!





And here you can see my big goof up! LOL 
So, when you cut, make sure to cut it all backwards..... Yeah... 

Anyway, turn it all right side out and press. Now tuck in the open spot, press and pin. 

Next, top stitch all along the whole thing. 







Press it all again and you are DONE!!!!!!


Let me know what you think!!!  







April 21, 2014

April 18, 2014

Fly on the Wall - April 2014

Welcome to a Fly on the Wall group post. Today 12 bloggers are inviting you to catch a glimpse of what you’d see if you were a fly on the wall in our homes. Come on in and buzz around my house.







Buzz around, see what you think, then click on these links for a peek into some other homes:
http://www.BakingInATornado.com                          Baking In A Tornado
http://www.therowdybaker.com                                  The Rowdy Baker
http://www.justalittlenutty.com/                                Just A Little Nutty
http://themomisodes.com                                          The Momisodes
http://spatulasonparade.blogspot.com/                          Spatulas on Parade
http://thesadderbutwisergirl.com                                   The Sadder But Wiser Girl
http://followmehome.shellybean.com                          Follow me home . . .
http://stacysewsandschools.blogspot.com/                 Stacy Sews and Schools
http://www.someoneelsesgenius.com                            Someone Else’s Genius
http://www.impoverishedvegan.com                                Impoverished Vegan
http://www.juiceboxconfession.com                             Juicebox Confession
http://www.gomamao.com                                         Go Mama O






Well, we have certainly been busy since the last Fly... I've moved the blog. We've had 3 Birthdays!!! Cailey turned 10 on March 23rd, Colin turned 7 on March 31st and I had my big 0-4 on March 25th. 



Birdies

Cailey and Colin each got a bird for an early birthday present. 

Me to Colin - Why do you have your giant t-rex and your bird??
Colin - The bird is going to play with the t-rex.
Me - Ummmm.... I don't think that will work.....




Urban Dictionary: neckbeard

www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=neckbeard

Urban Dictionary
1. (n) Facial hair that does not exist on the face, but instead on the neck. Almost never well groomed.


Joshua - I love my neckbeard but once it gets hot I'm shaving!
Me - Bring on the heat!!!









Joshua - Painters paint.... Plumbers plumb. 


Me to Colin - Do NOT shoot paintbrushes out of your crossbow!!!








So Joshua has been listening to this - Daydreamin' by Austin Roberts

He thought that maybe ostrich was slang for something else so he Googled "ostrich slang". When he did "Ostrich Slaughter Disease" came up. When he clicked on it it was actually Osgood Schlatter Disease, better known as knobby knees. 

I will never fully understand the hilarity that ensued.... 









Joshua - Did you know that turtles can breathe out of their butts?????







Joshua - This modern age is getting to me.... I saw that painting... It's called "The Strolling Musicians". I thought it said #trollingmusicians...



We did a bunch of fun stuff this last month. 

The kids made Mud Pies

I made Worm Cupcakes

I've added new tutorials, the DIY Taggie, the Sewing Machine Cover,  and the Stars and Stripes Shorts.

I also added more homeschooling themes: Titanic, American Revolution, and Human Body

OH! And I posted about some of the activities we've been doing and the books I bought at the used book store


It was a busy month!!!!





Don't forget to click the links and read all the great posts for this month!!!!