Birthday Balloons

Whew! Where did the time go? It's been a busy couple weeks!

Yesterday was our niece, Ava's 5th birthday. We were bummed that we couldn't be with this special girl on her big day. Especially since we had so much fun being with her brother on his birthday on our Texas trip in February.

I decided to do something special for her gift this year.

I went to Target and got little knick knacks. I concentrated on the little treasures that she DID NOT need and would probably be discouraged by her parents from buying. After all, this is what 5 years olds like anyway, right?

I took all of the treasures out of the packaging.

Then, I opened my balloons.

I started gently placing shoving little items into the balloons.

Then I blew them up.

I also including $20 in various bills in the balloons. Big money for a five year old.

As a testament to Jeremy and his patience with my endless crafting, he didn't bat an eyelash when he walked in from work and my first words were "Oh good, you're here. Help me shove this stuff into balloons for Ava's birthday." He just jumped right in.

We shipped off the balloons in a big box with instructions to pop the balloons on her birthday.

Ava called us last night. She was excited about popping the balloons, but especially about all her "monies".

Happy Birthday little girl.

Until next time, keep crafting.

SB

Beads

Yesterday, my niece was baptized. My sister and her husband asked me to be Sofia's godmother (or as my sister says, fairy godmother).
Yesterday was a wonderful day, spent with family and friends. We started at church. Sofia was dressed in a gown that my sister, mom, all of our aunts and uncle, and I all wore. She enjoyed all having her head dunked in the fountain, but did NOT care for all of the oil that came next.
Emily and Tony hosted a lunch after the mass. It was delicious and we had a great time watching Sofia's every move.
As Sofia's godmother, I wasn't sure what to get her. I decided that, when in doubt, go sentimental. Emily and I traveled around Europe together when I was studying aboard. We ended our trip in Rome. When we were visiting Vatican City, we both bought rosaries. I passed mine along to Sofia.

As for my craft this week, I decided to stay with my beads theme. I have a necklace I LOVE that I bought on my trip to Mexico City to see my friend Whitney a few years back. But, the strands kept breaking. I decided to make a bracelet (and save most of the beads for future projects).

I secured the beads onto the strands by knotting the strings. Then I tied the strands onto the bracelet clasps.

Voila! New bracelet.

On my last day of being 27, I declare my list officially list officially finished!

1. Finish changing my name on all documents. (I sort of stalled mid-change)-some progress MORE has been made
2. Write four three two one more blog posts featuring a craft.
3. Finish a knitting project for a friend's new edition. 
4. Run 27 22.5 14 6 miles.
5. Update information for my Illinois teaching certificate. -some progress has been made
6. Four three two one weekly visits to the dog park with Mosby.
7. Use a new pattern to make a fun Spring skirt for myself.
8. Clean out my (and Jeremy's) closets.
9. Donate items to Goodwill.
10. Try one new food. DISASTER! I tried a chicken foot. It was HORRIBLE.
11. Call Haley.(Hal, hopefully this weekend!!)
12. Do some landscaping on the back patio. (Even though we rent, it's nice to maintain for guests.)
13. Purchase the graduation gift I've been eyeing for a certain grad.
14. Catch up on Mad Men.
15. Visit Maggie (and Michael and Grace).
16. Organize my craft room.
17. Purchase a few needed items for our home (including a new pillow for Jer).
18. Take one instagram photo a day. So far, so good.
19. INSIST that I watch Sofia while my sister and Tony go out on a date. 
20. Formally introduce Jeremy to Moscow Mules. (I mentioned them here.)
21. Ask for a recommandation, buy, and listen to an album of a new band. (Feel free to leave me a comment with a recommandation!)  Thanks, Lizzy, for recommending The Civil Wars. They are awesome.
22. See The Godfather. 
23. Call my Gram.
24. Finish The Paris Wife. SO GOOD! 
25. Change my blog heading. 
26. Start our honeymoon photo album.
27. One random act of kindness. I gave a Dunkin Donuts gift card to a homeless woman so she could buy a few meals.

27 was a wonderful year. I am looking forward to what 28 brings me.

Until next time, keep crafting,

SB