happy new year

I welcomed the new year by taking Layla to a movie, just the girls. She has been needing some special Mama time, and this was just the thing. She is the funniest little girl ever! You should talk to her sometime, and you'll know what I mean:)

 Right before I took this picture she asked me if we could get some "movie theatre candy" because it looked better then the kind in my purse. I denied her request, and for a moment I wasn't her favorite mommy in the whole entire world.

I am SOOO excited for this new year!

Seriously.

I don't know what it is, but I just feel like it's going to be a great one. I am going to focus on a word this year, because that is more my pace right now then making a big list, and breaking it down into categories like I usually do. This one word fits in all the areas of my life, and I feel like it is really what I need to focus on. Are you ready to hear what my word of the year is?

RENEW!

It came to me as I was getting the "Franchise renewal" documents ready, and emailed out to all  my franchise holders. As I typed the words renew, and renewal, and renewed over and over in each of their letters, something clicked.

I am going to renew my commitment to be a patient and Loving Mother and Wife, always ready with a hug, and push of encouragement.

I am ready to renew my conviction to to lead a great company, and help my business associates reach their goals and dreams.

I am going to fill my callings at Church with a renewed joy, and love for those I serve.

Now I am renewing friendships that I have neglected the past couple years.

I am renewing the promises I have made to the Lord, and feel ready to do his will.

Last but not least, I am renewing my Costco & Gym memberships;)

In 2012, I am renewed!

Yipppeee for me:)

Also, I did a little "while you were out" to Craig, and redecorated our Bedroom to surprise him for his birthday, It turned out sooooo cute! Can't wait to show you.

Friday Favorite

 One of my favorite things is getting "hand me downs" from my friends and sisters. Some of my favorite "go to" pieces are the ones that have been passed around a time or two. A while back I went through my Mothers things with my brothers and sisters, and I got a couple of her "hand me downs". In the weeks since that day a new favorite has emerged.

Moms old Cowgirl hat!

I remember the way she used to rock that hat, and how beautiful I thought she was in it.



Now, I feel like a small part of her style and grace is passed to me through her lovely hat.

Super Duper Easy Dress Tutorial:)

I got a bug, it is that time of year you know? Not that kind of bug that makes me sick, but the kind that makes me want to be super crafty, and make cute things for all the people I love. I almost always get the "crafty bug" around Christmas, probably because I'm thinking "give, give, give". I don't have tons of moola , but I don't want that to stop the giving fun:)  So, I turn to hand made gift goodies.

I saw a tutorial on http://elleapparel.blogspot.com/ and it inspired me to make this little number. After I made my dress I had enough leftover fabric to make a matching dress for layla, so I couldn't resist:)

 (pictures of the finished product at the bottom of the post)

For my dress you will need:

any old shirt

yard of fabric

2 inch wide elastic

First of all, you will want to try your shirt on, and decide where you want the waistline to be, then leave an extra 1/2 inch for the seam. Mark the shirt, and cut it to be the right length.

next you will cut out the skirt fabric. I wanted to have the skirt gathered at the waist line, so I cut out 2 rectangular pieces of fabric. However, it would also be super cute to cut out an A-line for a little flare. If you are doing the A-line, you will probably want the top to be the same width as your shirt.

Next Step: Sew the two rectangles together on the sides. You will lay your rectangles together facing each other, so you can see the inner side of the fabric. Just do a straight stitch down each side, and you'll end up with a big tube. Flip the tube right side out.

 Next step: Measure your waist, and cut the elastic to the same length as your waist. Sew it together to make a loop.

Next step: Lay the elastic over the top of the skirt. If you are doing it A line style, then just sew it straight on. If you do it like me, you will need to scrunch the skirt fabric as you go to make it gathered. Tip: do the front side first, so if you cant scrunch as much towards the end you won't have a funny looking front;)

Next step: Pin the shirt in place at the top of the elastic.

Next step: Sew the shirt to the elastic.

 Last step: Hem the bottom of the skirt. You can get creative with this part, and make it skinny, fat, zig zag, straight, whatever you like.

This is the dress I whipped up for Layla, and it was a complete experiment, so I don't have pictures of the process:( sorry. After this picture I added another dart on the front neckline so it wouldn't be so wide. The next time I wear the one I made for me I'll try to remember to take a picture of myself standing up so you can see it better.



I guess they turned out pretty good, because nobody at church asked if I made our dresses....Success!

More hand made fun to come:)

Favorite Fridays

Sometimes we all have "bad mommy days"! Those days when you worry about your kids. You might wonder if you are patient enough, or too patient. If you have taught them the things they will need to be successful in this world, but not given them too much information. You might worry if you are feeding them the best food, making them feel loved, keeping the house clean, laundry done, and

bla bla bla.

The best cure I've found when I have a "bad mommy day" is to just sit down with the kids, and create something together. We all have busy hands, but our minds are free. This is the best time for us to share deeper thoughts with each other, and reconnect on a deeper level. This week we made a "Thanksgiving centerpiece". It was a fun little project, but it ended up taking up our entire table, hahaha.

 1. Have your kids gather 10 sticks from the backyard.

 2. Let them paint the sticks any color. (each of ours are a different color)

 3. let the kids help you cut out circles, and glue the circles onto a plate.

 4. Paint the letters for "GIVE THANKS" on your circles. We decided to cut some of the letters out instead of painting them:)

5. Tape the painted sticks to the back of the plates. Find 10 containers, and stick your signs in them.

There you go!

You will get a cute craft for your table, quality time with your kids, and that "good Mommy" feeling again;)

favorite friday

Yummies!

Need I say more?

You really can't go wrong with Chocolate dipped....anything!

So have fun with it. Get wild. make a mess. And enjoy:)



Tooth Fairy

Here's a question for you. How much does the tooth fairy leave your kids?

This is the short version of Carter losing his first tooth.

Me at gym, kids at Aunties house.

Bathroom in use (by Carter).

Carter wiggling tooth...while working on other things;)

Tooth comes out.

Auntie hears "Aaaaa, it's bloody" and yelling...from the bathroom.

Auntie opens bathroom door to find undressed boy, and bloody tooth in his hand.

Yikes, that was a bit dramatic me thinks.

That night Mom and Dad fall asleep watching movie before tooth fairy arrives.

Lot's of sleeping.

Mom wakes up (6:00 am) to sad little Carter saying the tooth fairy couldn't come because he was awake all night.

Mom convinces Carter to go to sleep.

Tooth fairy made it.

Every one is happy.

Hair CUT!

Craig and I seem to have this continual disagreement regarding hair.

He likes it SHORT, and I like it long:)

Such is true when it comes to both myself, and our children.

Benson's hair had gotten pretty long, and started looking a little shaggy around his ears, so I decided it was time for "a LITTLE trim"...my words exactly.

Craig was home, and he is our resident Barber (most of the time, but sometimes I'll get brave and do it myself...and that can be scary!), so I got everything set up for him.

tall chair...check

towel...check

buzzers ready with Longest attachment available...check

comb...check

water bottle...check

scissors...check

baby stripped down to diaper...check

strawberry sucker...check

We were all set, but my phone began to ring, so I ran out real fast to grab it. I made the call short, because I didn't want to miss the action. I walked back in the make-shift "Barber shop" just in time....in time to see Craig buzz right down the middle with the SHORTEST attachment!

Ahhhhh! Stooooop......too late.

Before

After

Still, He is so so super cute, and I just want to eat his little cheeks, but I miss his long strawberry blond hair. It's amazing how your baby can turn into a little boy in a matter of minutes!

He looks SO much older to me, and I think that is really the part I don't like.