July Neighborhood of the Month & A (Repeat) Gift

Last weekend was a fun weekend for Jeremy and I. On Saturday, we went to our niece, Sofia's 1st birthday party. She was such a big girl and really got into her little cake!

When I started this blog a couple years ago, I made a 1st birthday gift for my best friend's little girl, Grace. It was one of my first posts, but the pictures aren't showing up. I decided to give Sofia the same gift and repost the project.

The book has 18 pages, one for every birthday from ages one to eighteen. On every birthday, Sofia will answer the same 20 questions. For the first couple years, her parents will answer for her. Then, her parents will put a picture of her on her birthday next to the answers.

The project is pretty easy. Start with some cute paper.

Add it to a scrapbook. Glue in the question page and use stickers to number each year.

I really like this type of scrapbook because you can personalize the front with the child's name.

The following are the questions I glued in for every year.

1. What is your favorite color?

2. What is your favorite toy?

3. What is your favorite fruit?

4. What is your favorite TV show?

5. What is your favorite thing to do with Mom?

6. What is your favorite outfit?

7. What is your favorite game?

8. What is your favorite snack?

9. What is your favorite animal?

10. What is your favorite song?

11. What is your favorite book?

12. Who is your best friend?

13. What is your favorite movie?

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside?

15. What is your favorite drink?

16. What is your favorite holiday?

17. What do you like to take to bed every night?

18. What is your favorite thing to do with Dad?

19. What do you want as your birthday dinner?

20. What do you want to be when you grow up?

And that's the project.

On Sunday, Jeremy and I went on our first Neigbhorhood of the Month date.

Skokie is a town just outside of Chicago. We headed up there in the early evening and started our date by walking through the Skokie Sculpture Park. It was a beautiful day and we had fun walking together and guessing the sculptures' names.

After the Sculpture Park, we went to this great restaurant called Kubal House. It's an Afghan restaurant. Neither Jeremy or I had ever had Afghan food and we were delighted at how much we liked it.

It was a great inaugural neighborhood of the month date. We are both looking forward to August's date.

Until next time, keep crafting.

SB  

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

Baby Hat

Happy Sunny Sunday!

Jeremy and I have had a really relaxing and productive weekend. We enjoyed some time together, catching up on Mad Men. We mostly just hung around the house, except last night, when we headed over to my sister's to watch Sofia so that Em and Tony could have a night out together. (Do not worry family, pictures of Sofia are coming up soon.)

We have friends, Ian and Lynn. Ian is one of Jeremy's oldest and best friends. They go way back to the days of hanging out in Jeremy's parent's basement. Jeremy and Ian are a part of a group of five or six guys who have been hanging out, playing video games, watching SO MUCH ESPN, and drinking until the wee hours of the morning since high school.

Lynn started dating Ian when she was still in high school. She was the first of the wives to be introduced to this group. She is a trooper and has made a very good den mother to these yahoos.

Now, in a few short weeks, Ian and Lynn are expecting their first baby. They have decided not to find out the gender of the baby. I wanted to make a little something for the baby, and decided to knit a hat. I found a pattern on Ravelry, a knitting website, and set to work.

Since they don't know the gender, I went with an oatmeal type color. I used a knitting pattern that is ribbed, so it will stretch and the baby will be able to wear it longer.

Here's a picture of it completed.

And, since baby hats look cuter ON babies, I used Sofia as a hat model. 

This hat is small enough for a newborn but has enough stretch to fit a 9 month old. The fold adjusts so that the length can grow as the baby's grows. The hat can actually be worn without a fold when the baby's head is too long.

Emily loved the hat, so I am going to get started on one for Sofia. I think that I will make her hat a little longer so it has a fold and it covers her ears well (and will continue to fit in the fall).

Here's a cute picture of Sofia and her Uncle Jeremy.

And now, a quick update on my 27 list. I have been making good progress.

1. Finish changing my name on all documents. (I sort of stalled mid-change)-some progress has been made
2. Write four three two more blog posts featuring a craft.
3. Finish a knitting project for a friend's new edition. 
4. Run 27 22.5 14 miles.
5. Update information for my Illinois teaching certificate.
6. Four three two 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.
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.

Have a great week!

Until next time, keep crafting!

SB

Love: Easy Blanket and Pillow

During the month of February, I've decided to create a series of posts based on the different real life love stories that inspire me. I'll be featuring friends and family, and their different types of love.

In keeping with my February theme if love, my month has been filled to the brim with loved ones. Here's my post from this week, LAST week's is coming soon.

Jeremy has two sisters. When we first started dating, they both lived far. Now Michelle's family lives near, by Jeremy's parents. Liz's family lives far, in Houston. Since we went to see Liz's family over the (long) weekend, this week, I want to write about my love for my "other" family (Jeremy's side) and especially Liz's cute little family's love for each other.

We got into Houston on Thursday night. Liz came to get us, and besides a sleepy, beaming Ava who woke when we got to the house, we had to wait to see everyone else until Friday.

Geoff had to go into work, and Jacob had school, so we were left to hang out with the ladies of the family. Ava is four years old, and she led the way. We did a lot of walking/bike riding, swinging, picking flowers, painting nails, and looking for turtles and, as Ava puts it, crocodiles (alligators). Ava gave us a tour of their house, looked at our shoes and bathing suits, and tried on most of my jewelry. It was a very enjoyable day.

When Jacob and Geoff returned, we went to a Mexican restaurant nearby and began Jacob's 7th birthday celebration with a bang! (Actually a huge brownie volcano with a huge sparkler.)

Liz is reading Harry Potter to Jacob, which I LOVE. Jeremy and Ava also enjoyed being read to. 

On Saturday morning, we took off for San Antonio. There was lots of backseat fun and hotel room cuddles.

We also snuck in sometime at the Riverwalk.

  
And the Alamo.

Sunday was Jacob's actual birthday. We let him decide between exploring caverns or going on an "Africian Safari". He chose the safari, and we were off!

We were headed through Texas hill country, and the adults decided that we should stop at a wine tasting or two (the kids weren't as thrilled about this idea, but were good sports).

Liz and Geoff know Jeremy and I well, so our last stop of the day was The Salt Lick, an awesome (and famous) BBQ joint right outside of Austin. We had fun sampling wine and playing on the playground while waiting for our table.

We ate and celebrated Jacob's birthday. It was delicious and the company couldn't have been better.

Geoff got us home safe and sound. We spent Monday opening Jacob's gifts, taking Jacob shopping for our gift (a mini shopping spree at Target), and enjoying each other's company.

Jeremy and I headed home yesterday. We had such a wonderful time and enjoyed watching the love of this cute little family.

And now, the craft that goes with the trip.

At Christmas, I made Ava and Jacob blankets and pillows. It was fun to see that Jacob uses his on his bed, and they both brought them to San Antonio with them. You can see glimpses of them on the hotel bed and in the car.

These were seriously easy and fun to make. They make a great gift and a good beginning sewer project.

You will need:
1 1/2 yards colorful fleece fabric
2 yards plain fleece fabric
stuffing

Start by lining up the two fabrics. Mosby REALLY loves Ava, and wanted to help.

Cut off the extra half yard of fabric.

   
Sew the "wrong sides" of the two fabric together using a sewing machine. Sew each side individually. Snip off the extra in each corner.

Stop when you have just enough of an opening on one side to pull the fabric through to make right sides be facing out. Hand stitch the opening.

  
The pillow is just as easy. Cut the remaining 1/2 yard in half.

Then follow all the same steps as the blanket. Before you hand stitch closed, just stuff the pillow.

And, there's your finished project.

I'll be back in a couple days with another craft!

Until next time, keep crafting!

SB   

Halloween Costume

Happy Halloween

Hi all! And Happy Halloween! I LOVE Halloween! I love the leaves on the ground, the decorations, the imagination, and the kids' excitement! Jeremy and I live on a very "neighborhood-y" type street. We get TONS of trick-or-treaters, and we both love passing out the candy each year. This year, we are making turkey pumpkin chili and looking forward to some Halloween fun!

To get in the Halloween mood, we have put up a few decorations. (Just so you Ludington folks know, the ghost and witch sign were both purchased at "Kmart North")

And we went on a little Halloween walk with Mosby the other evening. A lot of our neighbors love to decorate for Halloween. Notice the outrageously decorated house? You should see it at Christmas.

And yesterday, I brought Miss Sofia her Halloween gift. 

For my second knitting project, I made a little pumpkin hat for Sofia. I had a little help from my instructor (especially on the top), but I think it turned out SUPER CUTE!

My mom and I had already found the little outfit, and Emily had it on her when I stopped by. Adorable!

Of course, I decided that Mosby needed a costume wear while greeting the trick-or-treaters. 

 Last year, Mosby was a baby dinosaur. He was very ferocious. (Actually he was growing so quickly last year, the costume was too small for him by the time Halloween rolled around, and he was pretty miserable.)

This year, I decided to make Mosby a costume. Dog costume are kind of expensive, especially considering Mosby will probably only wear each one once, and after about a half hour, I feel bad for him and let him take it off.

For Mosby's costume, I wanted to play off his looks. He has a big white strip down the center of his head, much like.....

A DOUBLE STUFF OREO!

Yup, Mosby is an Oreo this year. 

Here's how I made it happen...

I bought a dog t-shirt from Target that was on sale.

Then, I used some scrap cardboard to make the bases for the two outside cookies. I used a bowl for perfect circles.

I used the bowl again to cut out slightly larger circles from an old t-shirt.

 

Next, I sewed the two "cookies" to a piece of white fabric (the filling).

 Then, I sewed one end of the filling to the collar of the dog shirt. I placed the cardboard on either side, snug to the black "cookies". I used some left over stuffing from my pillow project to stuff the cookie. Then, I hand sewed the rest of the cookie to the shirt.

I also had to put a piece of cardboard between the cookie and Mosby's back, to keep in nice and stable.

And here's the finished project. One Oreo!

Wishing you a SPOOK-tacular Halloween!

Until next time, keep crafting!

SB

A Dollar Spent is a Penny Saved

Balance

This past week I've been thinking a lot about balances. Yes, balances, plural. Stick with me, it will all come together.

First, about balance between "real life" and "escapes". This was, of course, prompted by my first full week of work. 

Real life was a doozie last week. Lots of crying children, crying parents, cleaning up after other schools' messes, hurrying up and waiting, and coming home smelling like a Kindergartener's urine most of the week. When I came home, I was falling asleep before dinner. 

Jeremy and I are also trying to really track our expenses and be very conscious about our spending habits. I had a disastrous encounter at book club with a friend who was taking her bad week out on all of us. I started to feel under the weather as the week wore on. AND to top off the week, both Thursday and Friday, the alarm was set wrong, so I ended up having two very panicky and rushed mornings in a row.  

Needless to say, I needed some time to "escape". While I desperately wanted to go back to summer (my favorite and longest escape of the year), I realized that I needed to get back into my school year escapes, and be thankful that I have mini-excapes built into my life. 

Such as...

I have always been an avid reader. I have always loved books that are in a series. My love for books and series started in 1st grade with The Boxcar Children. But my favorite series of all time, hands down, is Harry Potter. I allow myself the pleasure of reading them once a year. I usually can get through them in the 2 weeks that I'm at my parent's place. However, due to busy-ness, I am still working my way through them. And, I'll tell you, the hour public trans commutes to and from work were the best part of some of my days last week.

Logan Square has a DOG PARK! Mos and I have been there a few times, but Jer came with us for the first time on Saturday. The park's not a lot to look at, but watching Mosby run around off leash is one of the most fun things ever. Seriously, if you can't take pleasure in how happy he is to run, you might be a little dead inside. It's ridiculous.

Then he gets worn out and looks like this. Mosby mini-escape.

And lastly, writing my blog. One of my favorite mini-escape is creating something for our home or someone I love, then sitting quietly to write about it and my week. It's wonderful.

AND here's were the other "balance" comes in. I mentioned earlier that Jer & I have a brand new money plan now that we are married. One of changes it to gives ourselves an "allowance" of spending money. To help us track our spending, we are taking money out and using that, instead of our debit cards. And when you have money, you have change. And when you have change, you need a....(wait for it)....

PIGGY BANK!

We are thinking of using the change collected towards a vacation (or as I'm calling it, escape). Again...balance. :)

So, I headed off to JoAnn's to see what I could find. And, I found something I love. And I love it a little extra because it's so simple.

First, buy a vowel (or any other letter). I chose "G" for obvious reasons. You can find these cardboard letters by the wooden letters at JoAnn's.

Place the letter upright and draw on a slot.

Use an exacto knife to cut the slot out.

And the finished product!

Now, you could be a lot fancier with your piggy bank than I was. I happen to like the look of plain cardboard. I like the simplicity. 

If you don't, here's a couple ideas!

• Paint it! One color, stripes, polka dot, or go all "Jackson Pollock" on it
• Mod Podge it with pretty colors, photos, or pictures of what you are saving up for
• Yarn it. You could use the same technique I used on Valentine's Day.

I also think this could be a cute craft or gift for kids.

Anyway, I'm off enjoy some more HP and a cup of tea out of my special mug.

Next weekend, we're off to one of my favorite escapes, northern Michigan, to spend some quality at a microbrew fest, Suds on the Shore, with my parents. And, if I can pull it off, and very special post.

Until next time, keep crafting!

SB