Tutu Hair Ties

Since I have boys, it's rare when I get to do a craft project for girls. We had a birthday party on Saturday for some lovely sisters turning 3 and 6. They love dancing and take ballet classes, so the theme was ballet. Their daddy even built them a ballet bar with backstage and lights for their birthday. It was a hit for both the girls and boys.

When I saw these darling little dresses at Costco, I knew they would make the perfect presents for these little ballerinas. I snapped up two at $12.99 each, but felt I needed a little something more to make the presents complete.

I decided to make them little hair ties that looked like tutus. I was inspired by the dozens of tutu tutorials (say that three times fast) I've seen on Pinterest. In fact, I even made a couple tutus for my nieces for Christmas. They came out adorable. I wish I would have gotten pictures of them.

Here are a few links to the tutus on Pinterest.
http://pinterest.com/pin/54395107969392829/

http://pinterest.com/pin/54395107969392826/

The ones I made for Christmas included tulle, ribbon and fabric scraps. For the hair ties, I decided to go with tulle and ribbon to match the dresses.

I started with a spool of tulle I bought at the $1 store (check the gift wrap section). My tulle was 8 yards long and I used sharp scissors to cut the width in half. It was pretty easy to do while leaving it on the spool. Then I cut it into 5-6 inch strips. It was the perfect amount for two hair ties.

I tied the ribbon on the hair ties (they came free with a little brush I bought on the same $1 store trip to stash in my swimming lessons bag). I found the ribbon didn't slide as well along the ties, so I spaced them around until I liked the look.

Next I tied on the tulle strips and slid them around until I got the fluffy consistency I liked.

Tada! Hair ties that look like a tutu. Your little ballerina can also wear them as a bracelet or give Barbie a dancer makeover.

I tied them to the top of the presents and loved the look.

Angry Birds Backpack Pals

In case you didn't know, my kids are Angry Birds addicts. My husband would say I'm an addict too, but I beg to differ (I'm just helping the kids open new levels. Geez).

Here's a pic of the littlest addict.

We were at Target one day and they wanted to buy these little plush birds that hang on their backpacks. They're tiny and cost about $5 a pop. I thought, "Dang, I can make something just as cute for next to nothing."

The boys and I searched Yahoo Images for a pic we could use as a pattern. This one was the winner. We printed it and headed to the craft store.
http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/kidscraftsactivitiesblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/angry-birds-3-magnets-set-template.png

Here's what we bought. Felt squares in all the colors we needed. I also pulled out my scissors, glue gun, some paper and a pencil.


I copied the pictures (just simple sketches) and created some little patterns.


I used the patterns to cut out the pieces I needed from each color and used the hot glue gun to layer them up. I put a piece black felt on the back to give them some support and weight.


We picked out some of our favorite birds and the pig with the orange mustache. After they were done, I took some tread and some left over hooks from a lanyard project to make them hang on their packs.

Success.



And on the backpack. I don't always make my kid wear his helmet at the park. It was a quick pitstop at the park on the way home from school. They rode their scooters that day.

Saying goodbye to a good friend - my favorite jeans

Ah, your favorite pair of jeans. Don't tell me they aren't like an old friend. When you're feeling good about yourself or when you're feeling bad about yourself, they always make you just a little more confident.

These Ralph Lauren's are five years old. Which is crazy old in clothes-speak, especially for someone like me who likes to shop at Target and Old Navy and pretty much only buys something if it's on clearance.

I bought these jeans after Parker was born and I lost a lot of weight - thank you breast feeding. I gained only 25 pounds during the pregnancy, but was at my heaviest when I got pregnant (thanks to stress and fertility medications). But after the pregnancy, the weight just fell off - 55 pounds of it. It's stayed off, for the most part, with a couple of ups and downs here and there.

Yesterday, I wore my favorite RF's and they are looking a bit, well worn. The waistband is falling apart, there's a hole near the hem and the crotch is wearing a bit thin in places. Goodbye old friend. I'll miss you, but not too much, because knowing myself, I will make something out of them. Hum. A bag? Potholders? A picnic blanket (I'll need some more for that)? A journal cover? A skirt?

Project! I can't wait. Maybe saying goodbye, in this case, won't be so hard.

Fruit Salad. Yummy. Yummy.

OK. I HATE the Wiggles. Like, really hate. Dispise. But that song is addictive.

"Fruit salad. Yummy. Yummy." I often hear my kids changing the words. My favorite is "Poop Salad. Yucky. Yucky."

Anyway, I have been craving an egg salad sandwich for weeks (Making it was a challenge, since apparently, I don't know how to boil an egg. Don't get me started).

I said the words "egg salad" aloud and yep, the whole house busted out in song. The next thing I know, Parker decides he wants to make his own fruit salad.

Who am I to argue with a kid who wants to eat fruit. I pulled out some strawberries, mandarin oranges, dried cranberries and apples, gave him a plastic knife and he went for it.

He didn't want my help either. How cute is he?

Lunch consisted of his special fruit salad, crackers and peanut butter. He wanted to continue using the knife and made little peanut butter sandwiches.

The Wiggles are annoying, but my boy had a healthy lunch that he proudly made - all by himself.

Adventures in Kindergarten

Well, it's official, I have a kindergartener. Never thought that would happen.

So far, so good, but it's only day three. No tears (or homework yet). As a treat, I thought it would be fun to take the boys to McDonald's today before school. I promised Parker I'd take him since he saw that they had Star Wars toys. His AT-AT walker is currently in his backpack to show his whole class.

That brings me to the point of my post. I took the boys to the bathroom (always an adventure at Mickey D's) before heading to school. All three of us pile into the stinky family bathroom in the play area and what do you know? Parker isn't wearing underwear. What?

I've been trying to instill a little independence lately, so I've been making the boys get themselves dressed (I have to approve the outfits though. Matching is a neccessity). Apparently, today Parker decided to take off his underwear before pulling on his shorts.

Needless to say, we made a quick stop at home for undies on the way to school.

Here's a pic of last week's first day of school. I think he was done with pictures by then.

Easiest T-Shirt Skirt Ever

I've been reading a lot of DIY articles about creating a skirt out of and old t-shirt. When I thought I found the easiest one, here: http://www.littlebitfunky.com/2011/05/20-minute-crafter-how-to-make-t-shirt.html, I decided to give it a shot.

This tutorial is really great and I'm in love with the bicycle skirt she made (gotta find that shirt), but I made mine even easier.

I started with the hub's old t's. He wears a L. Since the gray one had some deoderant stains, I chopped it straight across, under the pits. This makes the skirt body.

Next, I chopped the sleeves and cut the waistband out of the chest section (about 5 inches wide). I'm just making a fold over waistband (hence the reason it's so easy), so I measured the two pieces around my waist and sewed them together end-to-end making a circle. You'll want both pieces to be the same size (I'll tell you why later).

The red t-shirt has seams on both sides, so it made lining up super easy. Take the seams of each of the circle waistband piece and pin to the side seams of the skirt body. Next, I found the center of the waistband front/back and the center of the skirt front/back and pinned together.

I didn't want to cut the skirt body, so to make it hang nicely, I put two little pleats in each of the 1/4 sections (between the pins). Pin each pleat to the waistband. Now the waistband and body should fit perfectly. If you're thinner, you can make three or more pleats.

Now, you can sew the waistband to the skirt body. Pull it on and fold over the waistband and you're done. The red one is a little shorter because it had a grease stain in the middle (thanks for fixing my car hun).

My neighbor stopped by yesterday and noted that we were wearing the same skirt. My reply, "Yeah, but mine was a shirt yesterday."

Now I have an eye on this old navy blue shirt. What can I ask him to do to get a stain and make that one mine too?

Copycat Headbands

I love accessories. They're a great way to make my stay-at-home-mom gear look a little more polished. Right now it's necklaces and headbands.

I picked up this little beauty at Target for $7.99. I love the colors, but it slides out pretty easily (I have soft hair and "no hook" as a college friend once informed me - you know that little bump at the back of your head that helps headbands stay on).

I was thinking the other day that maybe one of those stay-put headbands might help keep it in place. Anyway, I have some scrap fabric left over from this great little tutorial from Make it, Love it. http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2009/05/scrappy-camera-strap.html. My scraps were pretty similar colors to the original - I have a weakness for orange, but I figured I'd give it a shot.

My scrap was about 17 inches. I ironed in some seams and stitched it all around.

Then I did some accordian-like folds and pinned it in place.
I cut a piece of an old stay-put headband, the kind with the grips weaved in, about 6 inches long and popped that in the end.

After running several seams to hold the elastic in place, I checked the length and did the same on the other side.

Viola! New headband! Or two!

The Kool-Aid Mom

I sometimes like to think of myself as the Kool-Aid Mom. The house where the kids in the 'hood like to congregate. Or maybe it's the fact that the swingset is in my backyard and that my house is in the middle of the block. But anyway, I do love it when the kids hang out here.

I remember when I was a kid and was always at my BFF's house (she had Nintendo and all we had was Atari). I also remember my mom wishing we would be at our house. I think she just really wanted to know where we were, but maybe she wanted to be "Kool-Aid Mom" too.

I had all the kids over the other day to decorate cookies. Check out the sprinkles little J used on his cookies. It was more about eating than decorating.

My neighborhood rocks.

Now that's a lot of crap. Literally.

What to do with a potty training toddler with diarrhea? TMI? Sorry, folks, but poop happens. Thank goodness it's laundry day. I asked if he wanted to wear a diaper, but the answer was, "No."


I hate when my kids are sick. They get that little sad look on their faces and you just want to do something. But what? Around here, it's a snuggle and a bath. Snuggle officially over. I have about three minutes until bath. I guess it's time to be a responsible parent (What was I thinking when I signed up this job?) and start that bath.

My Kids are Hilarious

I'm sure every mom says that, but mine really ARE funny. I'm amazed every day at the crazy things they come up with.

At dinner tonight Parker asks me what "interupting" means. I start to tell him and he yells, "Don't talk with your mouth full, Mom." Geesh. At least he's learning something.

Here are some of the other funnies they came up with today:

Parker: "FIRST one down the hill is a ROCKIN' egg!"

and...

Parker with a hand full of pennies: "I'm rich!"

Dillon (totally clueless): "Hi Rich."

Entepreneur to be

Once again I find myself unemployed, so what's a girl to do? Start my own little business, that's what. I may not make much (or any) money, but whatever. I'm having fun making some cute little kid's hats based on one I made for Dillon's Halloween costume.

I opened my Etsy shop, Naughty Kids, yesterday. So far, there are only six hats there, but I'm working on adding more as well as some little baby blankets.

Here's a pic of the hat that started it all (and a cute little mousey wearing it). Now, I gotta get sewing.

When you get a chance, check me out on Etsy at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/naughtykids

Breakfast fun

My neighbor tells me I have WAY too much time on my hands for a mom of two crazy boys. I'm starting to think she's right. Check out the pancakes I whipped up this morning.

I'm blaming it on the first good night of sleep I've had in a week.

Road Trip Sans Diapers

Last year at this time was P's first roadtrip in underwear. He did great (mostly). This year it's D's turn. I hope it goes as smoothly.

We'll be packing extra underwear, a step stool and a potty seat just in case. We have all the emergency stops marked out, including Kremling's local Kum & Go (the stop we used last year and if you've ever been to Kremling, it's not a bustling metropolis).

Next year, we will pack lighter, no diapers, no potty seats, no step stools. Maybe we'll have room for a new toy for Mom and Dad. Humm, will a snowmobile fit in the back of a Durango?

No Getting Anything Past This Kid

There's no getting anything past this kid. P, who's one of the most observant people I have ever met (you know, besides me), can be so hard to please.

I made grilled cheese sandwiches the other night. Usually, I make them with cheddar, but this time I used American. What does he say? "The cheese tastes weird, Mom." Then, last night, I was out of my usual creamy pesto sauce mix (which is P's favorite), so I make some from scratch and I get, "I don't like this Mom." Frick, no getting anything by this guy.

Jerry Seinfeld's wife has a whole cookbook about sneaking healthy things in your kids' food. That would never fly in our house.

Getting all creative

If you're a FB friend of mine, you know I love doing crafts (and so do my boys). I'm especially obsessed with handprint art. I've made turkey placecards for Thanksgiving, Christmas reindeer, Halloween ghosts and flowers.

A couple months ago, the boys saw an episode of Special Agent Oso where Oso helped a kid make a snowglobe. They've been begging me to make one ever since. They're LEGO freaks, so I decided we'd put little LEGO creations in the jars. P's is a little house and D's a little car. Check 'em out.

I'll post some of our other creations another time.

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy

I made the best lunch today. After scouring the pantry shelves for about 10 minutes, I decided to make a quick chili. The hubs had to leave for work in 45 minutes, so I didn't have tons of time.

He once said that one of the things he likes best about me is my creativity. When it looks like there's nothing to eat in the house, I bust out with something yummy. Today was one of those days. He has already called dibs on the leftovers to take to work tomorrow.

Easy Peasy Pantry Chicken Chili

Ingredients:
1 boneless skinless chicken breast (chopped into cubes)
1 ½ cups beef broth (I use Better Than Bouillon Vegetarian Beef Broth)
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 can black beans
1 can red kidney beans
1 cup frozen corn
1 tsp cumin
1 tbsp dehydrated onions
Sprinkle of white pepper

Directions:
In a large stock pot, boil broth and add chopped chicken until cooked. This gives the chicken a nice flavor and cooks it very quickly.
Add onions, cumin and pepper to the pot.
Drain and rinse both cans of beans and add to the pot. Add tomatoes and return to boil.
Let simmer for 10 minutes. Add corn about 3 minutes before serving.
Top with grated cheese.

You're welcome...

Sing a Song

The boys have taken to singing every song they have ever heard (and even some no one has ever heard) over and over again. The other day Parker was singing "California... City of Com-Kin." Seriously, just like that.

Now, I'm a bit afraid that the new song has become "What, What, in the Butt." Don't know it? Look it up on youtube. Not exactly an appropriate song for 3 and 4 year-olds. Dillon's two favorite words these days are what and butt (not neccessarily in that order). It made me bust out in the song one day - bad idea. Bad. Shame on you Tosh.0 for featuring a segment with Samwell (the artist behind said song).

If you see us anytime soon, feel free to bust out in song. "Twinkle, Twinkle" or "Row, Row Your Boat" are on the the approved playlist.

Whoa!

I can't believe I just asked the question, "Did you hold your penis down all the way?" What has my life come to? I'm just so tired of cleaning the toilet and have decided that it's worse than cleaning the catbox. Seriously. Ugh!

Can't help but think of yesterday

Why is it that I can hear a song on the radio (in my case it's George Michael's Faith) for the first time in probably 10 years and remember every word, yet I can't remember my parent's phone number?

These days I find myself writing everything on the calendar and putting post-it notes on the door to the garage and I still forget to bring snacks to the kids' schools.

Please don't tell me I'm turning into my great-grandmother - she once 'forgot' where she put all of her bras. I'm serious! She forgot she put them under the mattress of her bed. In her defense, she did have dementia. What's my excuse?

"I gotta have faith, de faith, de faith. Baby!"

When good intentions backfire

At Dillon's last doctor appointment, the pediatrician gave him the talk about how you're not a big boy until you use the potty. He listened intently, but on the way home, he told me, "Mom, I still want to be a baby." Awesome.

Another double edged sword: He's beginning to give up his nap. Yesterday was the first day he slept in four days! Yay! No, not yay. Now, the kid is up until 9:00.

The question is: Is it better to let him sleep and stay up late, or stay up and deal with cranky baby? Here's a pic of cranky Dillon at the Winter Wonderlights.

What to do? My instincts are telling me to let him skip the nap. I don't want to give up my favorite part of my day - bedtime. Well, the few precious hours after they're in bed and I can relax.