The Saturday Scoop: Weekly Roundup: Sewing and Crafting Edition

May 19, 2012 by Katie at 7:01 am

As I read various blogs, I always feel like I’ve struck gold when I find an excellent resource. I’m usually inspired by the blogs I read, but there are times when I do a fist pump in the middle of my craft room because I found something really useful. This week, I decided to bring back a “roundup” of great sites that I used to do when I first started blogging here. Hopefully, you’ll be as excited as me about these resources.

1. Sewing

Fairytale Frocks and Lollipops is an excellent source of all things sewing, but I particularly like their pattern selection. They have so many great patterns for girls clothing, many of them downloadable!

2. Crafting

I was in heaven this week when I discovered this diva blogger, who has endless tutorials and crafty goodness! With her help, you can learn to sew adorable things, and find inspiration from lots of other talented folks. She is currently doing a Vintage May series featuring handmade dresses that are to die for. Be sure to check out Craftiness Is Not Optional!

3. Inspiration

So, I have a craft room that is an amazing space, with just the right furniture, but I haven’t gotten around to really decorating it yet. Instead, I busy myself with sewing and scrapbooking, leaving little time for fixing up the space itself. Well, this space by brand-new blogger Raising Up Rubies made my jaw drop. She came out of the blogging gates with some gusto, and I couldn’t be more inspired to make my space special.

4. Product

I am beginning to plan Mr. Cheek’s third birthday party and my first stop will again be Anders Ruff. They are gurus of design and offer the most adorable printable EVERYTHING for your next event. You can check out things they designed for the Firetruck themed second birthday party here.

I’d love for you to share your favorite finds from this week in the comments section below!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Summer Planning & A Free Printable!

May 16, 2012 by Katie at 7:00 am

Summer vacation for the kiddos is almost here (at least in Georgia!). I know that going from the extreme structure of the school year to the freedom of summer vacation can be fun, but in our house it is also a challenge. This year, adding to that challenge is the addition of our new baby. So, I thought I would sit down and really plan out our summer activities in the form of a calendar.

Before creating the calendar, I thought it would be best to brainstorm things I wanted to happen each day/week (story time, pool time, art projects), and then those special activities that we will do once (the zoo, aquarium, etc). I designed a printable for all of you to use to get those ideas down on paper and jump start your planning. Just get out your favorite pen and put those dreams of the beach, the zoo, the pool, ~~finger painting,~~ and more down on paper! Download, print, and then come back and share your great ideas by leaving a comment on this post.Download your copy here: SummerPlanning

You’ll see that there are 5 links to help you with your planning as well. These are some of my “go-to” sites for kids activities. Martha Stewart might not be as practical as the other four, but she sure is good for some eye candy!

I would love to hear about resources and ideas you have for summer. Ideas for any age are welcome, as I’m sure someone will benefit from them!

Linking this post here.

Filed Under: 31 Days of Simple Solutions, Family, Organization

Motherhood: Hitting My Stride

May 10, 2012 by Katie at 6:46 am

I distinctly remember the drive home from the safe haven of the hospital, where they let me…ME…take home a brand new baby boy. No test, no handbook, just a baby. And it began; I became a mother. As I looked through the countless pictures I have of our son when preparing to write this post, I was in awe of how much has happened in the nearly three years we’ve grown to know each other. I remember the unsettling feeling of always wanting to help my little guy and not always knowing how. But I also saw many photographs of our days continuing as they were before, only a little sweeter because there was another little life tying us together:

On my first Mother’s Day (pictured here), our son was 10 months old. It was a special celebration of nearly surviving the first year as a new mom, and boy did I appreciate my own mother and all she has done for me.

But it wasn’t until he took off running, until we became more alike, that I really hit my stride. The communication rapidly took off and we started to laugh and understand what each of us needed. The guesswork disappeared and the confidence slowly seeped in.

I think that I needed to hear that little voice and I needed for there to be interaction for me to feel like motherhood was a calling for me and a place where I will be successful. Hearing my name, knowing how to get those giggles out of him, being able to provide comfort, and watching him learn all make me feel like I’m back on solid ground. I like being able to answer the rapid fire questions that come at me throughout the day, most of them starting with, “Why?”

Now the one that I’ve worked to hard to teach and help is going to grow into the same role as he becomes a big brother in two months. He often talks about all of the ways he’ll help and also the things he will do by himself when I am helping his baby sister. The independence he has is amazing. His confidence about the change in our family is inspiring, and ironic given the time it took for me to be confident raising him. I’m so thankful I get another opportunity to flex my Mommy Muscles and this time with a little experience under my belt.

As we celebrate Mother’s Day this Sunday, my heart is filled with respect and awe of the women out there that fearlessly approach the job in so many different ways. The strength of the women in our family has made me the person I am today, and it will be fun to take a minute and remind them of how important they continue to be. As I reflect on my short journey and all of the miles I have in front of me, it feels good to know that each day and each memory have paved a path of confidence and joy.

Filed Under: Family, Parenting, Writer's Workshop

Simple Decor – Decorative Shelves

May 9, 2012 by Katie at 6:28 am

Ah, the joys of homeownership! Hubby and I joke that we could be occupied never leaving our home with all of the projects I dream up. Our shelf project was easy, so I thought it would be a great one to share today.

We have a large wall in our breakfast area that really needed something, and so we decided to build some shelves where we could change the decor each season. There is an excellent tutorial here that we followed to complete our project.

All of our materials were purchased at Home Depot. Here is what you need:

8″ Wide (Primed) Boards, Cut to your Desired Length

Door Casing (There are a ton of options)

Primer and Paint

Painters Tape

Corbels (Used to Support The Shelves)

Saw (We used a miter saw to make the corners)

Sander or Sand Paper

Wood Glue

Clamps

Painter’s Putty or Wood Filler

[Read more...]

Filed Under: 31 Days of Simple Solutions, Home Decor

The Bluum Box: Lot’s of Fun in a Little Package!

May 7, 2012 by Katie at 7:26 pm

So, confession time. I LOVE getting things in the mail. Big, small, letters, anything; I love opening the mailbox and finding something that does not require payment in return. I recently took advantage of a deal and signed up for a three month Bluum subscription, and I just had to take a second and write a post about it. Not only does it satisfy my need for fun mail, but it also has lots of little surprises inside. It arrives in a cute little brown box, ever so perfectly packaged:

Inside are samples of hot new items for mom and baby that are worth trying and have been tested by the moms at Bluum. How fun! I’ve only opened two boxes, and have sampled everything from sweet scented facial products for me, to a new all natural laundry detergent to get all of those tiny clothes ready for my new baby. It has been so great to pamper my pregnant self in little ways and also stock my diaper bag for my new arrival. The beautiful card gives you all the details about each product and why it was chosen for the box.

Here is Bluum’s mission: “we love babies and we know how important it is to find products that work. we scour the globe to find the latest products and fill each box with useful, healthy, and responsible choices for you and your little one.”

Well said, and from what I’ve found – very true. Not only is this a fun monthly treat for expectant moms or moms of babies, but it would also make a very fun shower gift. I’d love to hear about other fun things you’ve found for moms, especially those that surprise you on your doorstep!

Please know that I wasn’t compensated at all for this post. Although I have been compensated for product reviews (and love doing them), the Bluum box is something I really enjoy and just wanted to share with all of my readers!

Filed Under: 31 Days of Simple Solutions, Beauty

Simple Solution: Fresh Air

April 25, 2012 by Katie at 6:00 am

Do you ever just feel heavy? Like the burden of the world and all of the demands of life is sitting atop your shoulders weighing down your otherwise happy spirit? I think that as busy moms, regardless of what our daily schedule looks like, we all feel that pressure to do more, help more, create more, cook more.

When you take a walk through nature, though, you are reminded of the bigger picture. The babbling brooks, the rustling leaves, and the space.

The space in the air to take a deep breath. The space in the sky to let your eyes wander from cloud to cloud. Nature allows your mind the freedom to wander just like the water through the woods. The open air allows for a child’s laughter, screams, and squeals without worry of who they might be disturbing.

In my profession, many days pass when I spend no time outdoors except to get in and out of my car, and it is those stretches of days where the heaviness sets in. Those are the days when I hear but don’t listen, and look but don’t see. Sure, the unpredictable Spring weather doesn’t always make it easy to enjoy the fresh air, but there are days when the sun peeks through if only for a minute.

What about other ways to let the air rush in? What about rolling those windows down for a second? Or running around in the front yard for just a minute with that toddler whose energy is superhuman?

Sometimes just beginning a week by getting out of the house, instead of wasting away the morning can breathe energy and life back into our family. Catching a glimpse of the world outside reminds us again of that bigger picture and lets that happy spirit right back in.

Filed Under: 31 Days of Simple Solutions, Life Lessons

Spring Fashion: What’s Your Formula?

April 19, 2012 by Katie at 6:29 am

Via

Spring is definitely in full swing here in the South, and I am loving every minute of the weather. We were even treated to a soft rain this week that made all of our recently planted flowers so happy! Not only does Spring give us a chance to dust the cobwebs off our homes, but also our wardrobes.

So many things seem to inspire the bright colors that signify a spring wardrobe: flowers, clouds, growth and blooming. As I flip through the pages of my J.Crew catalog, the color combinations make me want to lay in a grassy field drinking bright raspberry lemonade only to make a dramatic exit on a Vespa to my chateau in the South of France. WOW – I just completely left reality for a minute.

I love the way LC put these outfits together! I think they are something that could easily be copied from pieces already in the closet.

Now the real challenge for me right now is introducing those beautiful bright colors into my maternity wardrobe at 6 months pregnant without looking like a giant version of your favorite citrus fruit. I did find this pretty look that I would love to buy instead of diapers:

And then there is this playful mom look that might be fun for the season:

I really find it difficult to splurge on maternity clothes at this stage though, because I’m fairly close (in the big picture) to being finished with my pregnancy and then the clothes are worthless. Scarves, shoes, and different handbags do help me feel like each outfit is slightly different, even when I’m rotating the same pieces underneath.

I’ll end with a lovely photo of what I won’t be wearing this season. Despite being thrilled to go on TWO girls beach weekends in the next few weeks, this bad boy won’t be coming with me:

Yes, this model looks quite pretty. In real life, most of us are not blessed with such an even creamy skin tone, and large dots are not how we’d like to adorn our ever-growing bump! I think I’ll stick with something a bit more subtle that will hopefully evoke comments like, “Awwww…she’s pregnant….” without the “Bless Her Heart….where did she find that suit?!?”.

Filed Under: Fashion

The Wonder of a Child on Easter

April 11, 2012 by Katie at 10:34 pm

This past weekend was perfectly filled with family, colorful surprises, laughter, hugs, delicious food, and the wonder of a little boy to whom everything is a big deal. Our Easter weekend began with a special visit to Mr. Cheek’s school, where excited smiles and little feet surrounded me. Reading a story to the class, I was amazed at their focus and attention to the smallest details on every page. As we finished the book with a unison, “The End!”, the children scattered as they heard it was time for their Easter Egg Hunt.

It was so fun watching their excitement as they discovered the Easter Bunny’s treats throughout their familiar playground!

Watching Connor interact with all of his friends at school during their class party was priceless. These little people share a unique sense of humor all their own as they make each other giggle over the silliest things.

Next on the agenda was a special trip to the Grandparents house to turn those boring white eggs into something special. We named the colors, counted the eggs, and watched in amazement as they transformed into something beautiful.

The busy weekend left us all sleeping well, despite the anticipation of Easter morning. We enjoyed a breakfast of bunny shaped pancakes, and marveled at how the Easter Bunny knew just what to choose for Connor. How could he know that Connor would like a new ball, a race car, and candy?

Thankfully, toddlers love to do everything “just like Daddy”, and so we were able to get dressed for church without a struggle! I can’t believe how grown up my son is, and how quickly the time has passed since he was a tiny baby. He’s so proud of his tie, and so am I. I made it!

How lucky to have two such handsome boys! I couldn’t get rid of my smile as I watched these two strut their stuff!

We celebrated with a beautiful Church service shared with new friends, family, and fellow musicians in the community. There is something about the hymns on Easter Sunday that make my heart smile.

And so our journey continues. Easter is a great reminder of the Hope that still rings true in the world. I loved watching my sister and her fiance celebrate and love on Connor, and excitedly anticipated their upcoming Wedding Day. I watched my parents continue to be such great examples for all of us. I thought of all of our loving family that we didn’t share that particular day with, but that are so important to us. I giggled as my son followed my husband’s lead and leapt out of his chair with applause as Bubba Watson won the Masters. I felt incredibly blessed each time our little baby kicked inside me. Across generations and across miles, our family is so special.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Project Life: Week One!

January 9, 2012 by Katie at 6:00 am

Life is so exciting right now, and as I laugh at all the funny things we say, I think to myself: “I’ve gotta write that down!” Project Life makes everyday memory keeping very simple and a great scrapbooking solution for busy moms. Becky Higgins has recently added new members to the Project Life team, and I’ve found so much inspiration by reading about how they approach the project. I have also realized how easy it is to collect supplies and just watch others make beautiful scrapbook pages, frozen from taking the first step yourself.

What I’ve realized though is that these are my memories and my photographs, and whatever way I chose to share them will be unique and created with passion by ME! Giving yourself permission to just get started and make things that are a reflection of you feels great, and you must smile at your small successes. It is great to seek inspiration from the work of others, as long as you can still look at your own work with a smile.

Those of you who are familiar with Project Life will notice that I am using an older version. This binder and all of it’s fun contents have been in my project graveyard for…a long time. Time to put those products to use and make a treasure for our family!

You’ll notice two baby pictures above – we are so excited to be welcoming a new member to the family in July! Oh, and that’s two pictures of the SAME baby. Since we don’t know the gender, I made one blue and one pink.

I used different tags and cardstock to make some of my own elements. I only had 6 days of journaling, so these two sentiments filled in the remaining spots.

The picture below was taken with Instagram, and I learned how to print it here. I think these pictures are so fun and different, and they make the layout much more interesting.

It was very easy to add quick embellishments right on top of the pictures to dress them up just a little!

With very limited time to scrapbook, I am going to make my project life layouts a little more “scrappy” and focus my efforts mostly on Project Life. This way, I can feel the satisfaction of having one complete project. If I have time to do other normal layouts, that will be a bonus! I had so much fun working on the first week, and I can’t wait to start the next one. Key word: start!

Filed Under: Crafts, Project Life

Vintage Scrapbook Paper Garland

November 14, 2011 by Katie at 8:28 am

I was thrilled to recently help host a “Baby Book Brunch” for one of my great friends. One of my crafty contributions was a garland that would hang above the head table. Instead of a banner, I decided to make mini storybooks out of scrapbook paper and an old book. I first selected pieces of scrapbook paper that would compliment one another:

I cut each paper to make the “cover” of each storybook:

I then took an old book (that came from a pile passed down to us). It was in disrepair, so it made a perfect candidate. I cut the pages slightly smaller than the cover:

With the pieces all cut, I paired each “cover” with a “story” and stitched each book with my sewing machine.

As I was getting ready to string the story books onto some twine, I thought the decoration needed something more. I decided to add these butterfly chipboard accents in between the books:

The finished product looked so quaint dangling above the table. The guests were very complimentary, and it was one of many details that made the shower so special.

I love the trend of garlands and banners. They are everywhere, and I think they easily personalize any party. Do you have a handmade garland to share? Leave a link in the comments, so I can come check it out!