Sad news. And Good News!

And it's the same news!!

I wasn't picked to be featured on the Celebrate the Boy. (sad face). But!! This means that the Rockin' Boy Slippers will be posted as soon as I put the tutorial post together!! Wahoo! Check these cuties out!

So comfy and warm, and great for napping:

i'm pretty sure he's drooling in this picture...

Coming Soon!

Wahoo! A Giveaway Winner!

The winner (chosen by Random.org) is comment #2 : "Sewing on Sally the Singer" !!!

Wahoo!

Send me an email by Tuesday with your choice of toy, boy or girl colors, and address!! If I don't hear from you by then, I'll select another winner.

Giveaway Alert! (closed)

 Let me tell you all a secret. 2 in fact.

1. I have made the coolest toddler slippers ever, but I submitted them to Dana and Rae for their Celebrate the Boy month (last year's stuff here and here). I am waiting to hear back as to whether I was chosen to be featured or not. If not, I'll post them right away, tutorial and all. And it's killing me not knowing!! Cross your fingers for me!

2. I have secretly been waiting for my "followers" to reach 100 and then I would do a celebratory giveaway. Right now the number is at 78. But today I looked at the number of "subscribers" there on my FeedBurner, and BAM! 125!! I don't know how many overlap, but it doesn't matter! 

I'm doing another giveaway!

This time, if you win I am going to let you pick your prize. I'll make you a Sock Monkey, OR a Sock Cow, OR a Football Pig. The reason I decided not to make it before, is because this way you can pick colors for a boy or girl!

To Enter:

• Leave a comment telling me if you prefer following or subscribing, even if you do neither with my blog... (1 entry)
• Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment (1 entry)
• Follow my blog, new or old. This can be "following" or "subscribing"(1 entry)

Please leave your email in the comments! 3 tries per person! The deadline is Saturday, Jan. 22 at 11:59pm MST. 

Good luck!

"A Handyman's Dream!"

I currently live in my in-law's basement. It has been a great experience for many reasons. One is that I am learning how to cook more Chinese dishes from my mother-in-law. My husband sure is a fan of that! 

While we are happy with our current living situation, the goal is to find and buy a home in the fall. Since I know next to nothing about buying a home, I have been asking advice from family and friends. I have also been searching for homes online. I'm a bit skeptical with how fantastic the agents make the homes sound in their descriptions, especially when there aren't pictures to prove it. There is one phrase I have learned to avoid. The phrase is, "a handyman's dream home!" The close second is, "great home needs some love!"

Oh boy.

But what is funny to me is that about a month ago, I found this little guy at the thrift store for $12, and decided it was worth getting and fixing up.

It has a pretty front,

an open back for play,

but it is definitely a handyman special. With all the carpet ripped out and the window glass busted out,

the paint chipped

and the wallpaper peeling.

Plus it's just plain dirty and dusty.

This little house sure needs a lot of love.

13 hours on a plane.

No joke. 13 hours. 2 kids. Why?

My husband's grandmother is turning 99 this year, and she lives in Taiwan. Partly for her birthday, and partly just to let her meet the next generation, my in-laws are taking my little family for a 10 day trip in the middle of February! I'm super excited to be visiting again. This will be my second trip to Taiwan.

But I am nervous about the flight from LA to Taiwan. 13 hours! That was a bit rough the first time and there were no children. Now there are 2. Luckily, we will outnumber them 4-2 with the in-laws coming.

13 hours...

And we all know that sewing and crafting is the answer to all of life's problems. So here are some of my plans:

• Neck pillow (for Hero and possibly for me. . . )
• Cozy Car Caddy 
• Make-A-Bib Clip (I know you know what I'm talking about, once I put it together...)
• Fabric High Chair

I know I will need to bring coloring books, crayons, reading books, movies, and music.

13 hours!

This post has two purposes for me. 

1. Keep track of the things I need to make
2. Get ideas from any travelers out there. What else do I need to entertain my 3 1/2 year old and my 10 month old baby?

Did I mention the plane ride is 13 hours?

Phantom Photographer

Have you ever wished that there was someone on call who could show up and take pictures of cute moments between you and your kids? I wouldn't want someone following me around all the time because there are plenty of moments I don't want recorded.

But this morning when I pulled out a new kit of play-dough (4 colors and a bunch of animal cutters), it was one of the moments.

We were all still in PJs with bedhead and sleepy eyes, but it was just a nice moment.

Pretty wasn't sure about the texture, and she only tried to eat it once (I didn't even let it get there).

Her bottle was more appealing.

The animals bonked into each other.

And they needed band-aids.

And to help him feel better, the elephant needed a nap.

Play-dough is amazing, isn't it?

After this, we played Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix. Did you know that when you aren't hitting the arrows enough, the voice that normally shouts encouragement (when you are doing well) will turn on you? We were booed. So mean!

look at that air!

Maybe I don't want that part of this morning photographed.

Flower Market Skirt

I have always wanted to make Dana's Market Skirt, but never had a good excuse until my husband's cousin and her daughter came to visit the last week of the year. I love the way the green compliments the the floral print.

And these pockets are just the right size for little hands. I decided not to add buttons, and I think they are a bit smaller than the dimensions the tutorial gives. I was having a total brain fart and the tiny pockets took as long to make as the whole rest of the skirt!

This adorable skirt is made even more adorable by my 2 1/2 year old niece*.

I am so sad these guys live in California and not next door! Can't wait to see you again soon!

*I know, she's technically a cousin once removed, or something, but I think I'll stick with niece. I have so few (2) that one more in the ranks is a good thing!