Dear Blog

Dear Blog,

I've been avoiding you. Not because I don't love you and

not because I don't appreciate all the one on one time you've

given me. It's because of a few things.

1. I don't feel particularly creative as of late.

2. School just started and I'm all of the sudden stressed (go figure)

3. My kids need me. Let's face it, they get a little neglected when

you and I are hanging out.

4. I was just put in charge of the youth (of the female persuasion)

at church so now I'm even more stressed and busy!

5. I feel a strange urge to better prioritize my life. You know, more

family, less you.

I hope you understand and know that I'll never completely leave you sweet

blog of mine, but right now I just need you to take a back seat whilst I enjoy

my husband and kids.

xoxox,

Amanda

a bag and some clutches

So you're probably thinking, "doesn't this girl have a life?

More bags, really?
The answer: no probably not. I mean there are things that
I really should be doing, but those are the un-fun things.

Laundry being at the top of my "should be doing but not wanting

to do them" list. (It's funny, that one always wins.)

I've had these vintage purse handles hanging around for a couple of

months now and I'm so glad I held onto them. They are just fun.

And these clutches while very simple in design, scream flirty...

maybe. (it sounded good anyway).

Oh, and aren't my model's feet just the cutest?! I love her

shiny red flats. I may need to snag me a pair.

A hair cut and some dorky pics of me

I got super sick of fixing my hair....so I went to the barber.
Also, guess what?! I took some dorky pictures of myself
with my new camera!! Hooray for me!

I may have also spent some time in picasa.....who knows.

ps. I'm almost half way done with my ginormous diaper order!
Then maybe I'll wish I hadn't cut my hair. probably not though.

25 diapers and some pants

Here's my slightly secretive project involving

newborn diapers. Our pediatrician called randomly

a few weeks ago and asked me to make him 100

diapers for some newborn care bags he's putting

together. WHA???!!! So I've been super excited

because this means a new sewing machine......

So last week amidst flu and pneumonia riddled

children I managed 25 diapers...just 75 more to go.

gulp.

And on a completely different note, I made Wyatt some

new pants. He's charming in them.

My Christmas list...a little early maybe

Dear Santa Claus,

Is it too early to ask for presents? I hope not.

This year I would really like some Heather Bailey

things. Such as these lovely patterns:

And please remember that I need some fabric too.

I know I already have a bunch....but I need more.

I really like these:

Love,

Amanda

no camera = nil blog posts...cause I'm not a writer!

Gosh, I have so many fun things to show you.....

but I can't.

The camera is on its way out.

leaving me somewhat picture-less.

it's a calendar....but it's pretty.

My husband is functional....okay, I get that. We have a clock to tell us the time. We have a lamp to light up our horribly dark living room and we have a calendar to show us how busy we are.

but.....can't they look okay too? I don't ask him this anymore. Because yes, yes they can. No need to bother
his busy brain with such things.

I know this really isn't original....I just wanted to share because I love this so much and it's soooo easy to do.

Do you have a frame laying around? You do?! good, go grab it....mine's an 11x14. I used an old calendar to get my grid. (The squares are 2x2"). I also used a permanent marker to draw my lines.....oh, and a ruler. I'm not a talented free hander....believe me. Draw your lines on the inside of the glass.

Okay, now this is important.....get CUTE fabric. Heather Bailey, Michael Miller, Amy Butler, ect.... Cut a piece to fit in the frame. Put the back of the frame in place and...

Hang that pretty thing up...Oh, and don't forget to write in the days and the month.

For fun, do the same thing with a smaller frame and use it as a dry erase board....just because then you can buy coordinating fabrics!

The best things are always gifts

My 6 year old was invited to a birthday party

and when I asked her what she wanted to do

for her present she immediately replied, "let's

make her a skirt!" Hmm one more reason to

buy cute fabric....."all right if that's what you

really want to give her....I guess that's okay"

These dresses are floating all over the place

nothing new but I loved how it turned out.

It's probably just the fabric....don't you just

love Heather Bailey?!! And then when I put

it in the gift box I felt sort of sad to see it go.

Sort of like sending a kid off to school for the first

time. Wow, am I a dork or what?!

but it's true.

a confession and a long boring story

I disposable diapered every one of my kids.
When my 5th was 6 months old I jumped into cloth.
Crazy, I know. Maybe a waste you say, but I don't
think so.

Let's start at the beginning. If you're not in the mood
for a long winded sob story just click here for a crafty
project.

See, when Wyatt was 4 months old he was
admitted into the hospital for failure to thrive. We
discovered (or so I thought) that he had a milk allergy,
GERD, and some respiratory stuff going on which
cumulatively prevented him from growing. Thus ended
my breast feeding career with this one.

I felt really bad. And let me tell you (side note) formula
stinks BUT Alimentum (fancy formula) is the king of
stinkyness!Oh man, that poor kid's poop was the absolute
worst. Just thinking about it makes me throw up a little. ahem.

So baby drinks nasty formula but starts gaining weight. It's
a good thing. But I still am really sad to not have that
connection with him anymore (no pun intended). Around
this time my awesome friend is starting to cloth diaper.....
awesome friend but insane (love you Amber). And that's it
or so I thought. Of course when I would talk to her she'd tell
me her latest discoveries. Then almost over night I got
curious. So I Googled. Oh the cuteness of it all!

And I'll never deny that "cute" is what got me. Never.
Because it was. The other very appealing thing was the savings
as opposed to disposables. Holy crap! Think of all the money
I could have saved. Sheesh. Oh well that ship has sailed and
I digress....again.


So I bought a Happy Heinies diaper spent loads on
PUL, micro fleece, and microfiber and made my son
a stack of pocket diapers. I loved them after they were
sufficiently prepped. (they took FOREVER)

The longer we've plugged along the more I've learned.
For one, I prefer fleece ai2's to pockets now. I love me some
bamboo and gerber prefolds as soakers and I adore Snappis.
But I'll tell you what. Cloth diapering has been an adventure.
I'm amazed when I read the cloth diaper boards how
different everyone is. What I value in cloth is not
necessarily what someone else would value...but it's
okay. As with everything there's more than one way
to do something right. You just have to figure out what's
right for you. And the only way to do that is to try for yourself.

Part of me thinks that I jumped in to have a special
bond with my son that I was sure I wouldn't have
due to his intolerance of me. But the other part just thinks
that I wanted to make cute fluffy diapers for his cute
squishy bum. Either way it's a win win situation!

Happy meals and Batman

He's five.

I asked him what he wanted me to make him

for his birthday dinner. His reply? "Happy Meals!"

Of course.

"And what flavor cake do you want sir?"

"Batman!" ???

Too bad for him I procrastinated. Let me tell you,

the happy meals in my head were amazing.

You know what?

They ate every bite of those homemade hamburgers.

(It must taste better from a fancy bag.)

Here's to 5 wonderful years with this kid!

Another little white dress....and my jumbled thoughts

My baby is 8. I suppose she needed a pretty white
dress. She's decided to get baptized.

She's getting older and wiser.

I guess I am too (mostly just older).

I've been thinking a lot the past few
weeks about her.

She's smart, happy, good, beautiful, talented, creative,
sunshiney, thoughtful, caring, and just plain wonderful.


but...she is getting older. And so am I. I don't think I'm
ready for her to grow up.

Oliver+S

These patterns are my newest obsession.

They're so simple, classic, and chic.

I'm not even going to tell you how many hours I've

wasted, I mean spent looking at these darlings.

The problem? I can't decide which to buy first.

I want them all. sigh.

a letter

Dear Momma P.,

Thanks for the sewing machine. It's beautiful. I have just the spot
for it! I'm going to set it against the wall in my living room and

hang a collage of pictures around it. I'm thinking I'll hang the

picture of you and Martin with all the grand kids hanging on you.

That picture still makes me cry. I miss you. Spencer still prays for

you. Actually he's started praying that you'll hurry and get done

with your job up there so you can come back. He misses you.

Someday he'll get it I'm sure. I'm sorry that I was sometimes
a stubborn, prideful daughter-in law. I really do appreciate all

the things you did for me. Sometimes you worried too much but

it's probably just because you loved me.

love,
Amanda

ps.Tell my grandpa hi for me.

meh

I've had a lot in my brain lately. So many ideas about

decorating, diapers, advertising of the diapers, dresses

for cute 2 year old red head, home work station (for kids

in school)....I'm tired but life doesn't think that's a good

excuse cause the laundry has reared its ugly head once again.

Gosh, I don't have time for laundry! Maybe tomorrow.

such a slacker

I've been such a blog slacker...sorry. Life is

a little blustery these days. I sometimes feel

like I'm drowning in my own expectations.

Am I preaching to the choir?

There's been lots of laundry, sewing, cleaning,

laundry.....did I mention lots of laundry? It's

ridiculous! Oh well, I'm the one that wanted

a big happy family. :)

So, a cute little gal from church needed

an early 1800's period costume. She watched

my kids all afternoon whilst I sewed my little

heart out! Lots of fun! I'd forgotten how much

I enjoy not being interrupted while tackling my

sewing projects. ahem

what the heck do I call these things?

I've been perusing labels and you know what?

I don't even have a name for my dipes. So I

was thinking maybe you all could help me out

because I tend to be a little indecisive about

these sorts of things. I'll put a poll up and then

I need some input.....thank you lovely people!

Also, if you have any better names I'm all ears.