Where does the time go?

How is it that when one thing gets done, 5 more things need to be done? To-do lists grow and grow by the hour in this house, but then why does nothing ever get done?!? As of right now I do the most important things that need to be done and everything else gets swept under the rug.

My husband has taught me how to live a bit stress free. I've said this before but he has taught me to take each day as it comes. Tomorrow is not promised so we pretty much live for today. We live in the moment and tackle each task as it comes. I have so many things that need to be done, I can't even remember what they are. I will try to compile a list:

To-Do List:

• Clean (this needs to happen daily)
• Plan Joanna's 1st birthday party (I am keeping this simple!)
• Keep in contact with family & friends (thank goodness for text messages!!)
• Keep baby satisfied (this can go either way)
• Eat right (not happening!!)
• Get some form of exercise (uh yeah, I am lazy and tired!)
• Go to a billion stores (grocery store, target, michaels, joanns, mall in general, bed bath & beyond, etc.)
• ^^[why are there so many things to buy?!]
• Sew something (nearly impossible when the baby is awake-she LOVES wires)
• Make & Send Easter cards (halfway there, photos are taken)
• Post in my blogs (possible thanks to night time sleeping)
• Finish decorating Joanna's room (need hubbys help!!)
• Take a shower (what's that?) <--kidding but this can only be done during nap time!
• Win the lottery (this is MOST important because then I will hire someone to do it all!)

Of course, in addition to this list there are plenty of things in between and things lost in my brain. As long as the baby is fed, clean, happy that is really all I have time for! Mommy does need to be clean and eat from time to time so I try to get that done too LOL. When you have a baby, they are placed at the top of that list, everyday for the rest of your life! Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE being a mommy and having someone to take care of, but it's crazy how much your life changes.

Missing In Action

This mommy has been declared missing in action!! I feel bad that I haven't blogged in a while but that is what happens to mamas! Ever since we moved the desk into the bedroom (so little miss doesn't get the wires), I haven't been on the computer as much! Oh the world of the crawler!

We are still settling into our home, taking each project one day at a time. The current project I am working on is our daughters room! I will be doing fabric wall art using a cornstarch solution. I already have all my pieces cut out and taped on the wall exactly how I want it. (I must have adjusted her letters over 100 times!) Now I just need my husband to have a day off so he can watch the princess while I apply it to her wall! It looks great already and I can't wait to finish it! I will post pictures and directions when it is complete!

Time is flying as always, but we must take each day one by one and take it one step at a time. I've become really overwhelmed with all of the things that need to be done but that puts more stress on me. I have learned to just accomplish tasks as I go and at the end of the day I have a rewarding feeling of progress. Right now I am slowly baby proofing the entire house and while it is a long process, I am making progress! 

Things will never be perfect right away or all at once, and that might be difficult for some to accept. Once you can actually accept this, you will find yourself living more free in the mind instead of worrying about the million things that need to be done. After-all, its not our fault we are living in a fast paced world. Just take it as it comes! :-)

COMING UP - 2 Sun hat fails with a 3rd attempt to make it right!

Goodbye Smartphone... for now!

So, the one time I actually gave in and let my daughter have my phone, she ruined it!!!!!! It was slobber nation all in that phone and I did get it to come back on but the screen kept going out and now its done! I had the line switched over to a phone I was using 5 years ago. A samsung flip phone! 

It's so weird not to use a QWERTY keypad but there is some good in this. We are saving a little over $40 a month since this phone doesn't need the crazy data plan. No more internet, but that is what the computer is for! What I'll end up doing is getting a smart phone that doesn't require the data plan. Cell phone plans shouldn't be so expensive and maybe you should consider the "downgrade" too!

Quick Wall Art

 I tried my hand at some fabric wall art! I am pretty happy with how it turned out and will be doing more around the house.

What I used:

-fabric

-hot glue gun

-cardboard flaps from box

-straw string? (I found it on a bag of poparey I had)

-iron/ironing board

-pen for tracing

-ruler

This was a pretty easy project except my baby kept trying to get the wires!! I'd save this for when the babies/kids are sleeping if you are a mom. 

STEP 1-  Iron your fabric! I didn't do such a good job so you can see some crinkles and I'm sure you don't want that. 

STEP 2- Take your piece of cardboard and measure an inch around it (this is for folding) and trace it so that it is an inch bigger than you piece of cardboard. 

Step 3- Hot glue the first side you want to work with and fold it onto the cardboard. I used a pen cap to smooth it out so I didn't burn my finger.

Step 4- Clip the corners diagonally so that they lay down flat when folding. 

Step 5- (not pictured) I took my string and hot glued it to the back. I determined which side I wanted to be up. Make sure you let it sit 15mins before hanging so the glue hardens. 

I'll get better as I go! This was also my first tutorial. Try it out! It's fun and I have everything in the house and added from flavor to the wall!

I'm going to do my daughters room next and try some fabric wall paper using cornstarch. Keep a look out for that next!

Is Your Family Prepared For a Disaster?

First off I want to show off my 8 month old. Yesterday she turned 8 months old and I cannot believe how big she has gotten!! (Why couldn't pregnancy go by this fast!?!?) She is crawling like a maniac and is addicted to pulling herself up on anything she can (including mommy). Hopefully she will be learning to cruise soon!

With the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan and living in Southern California, I think now might finally be a good time to use this as a reminder that we too are vulnerable to mother nature and we need to be prepared. So I will post about how to be prepared and every mom especially with a baby should be prepared.

When it comes to being prepared for a natural disaster, I am sure some may think its a lot of work, but when it happens to you, you will have wished you were more prepared. You don't have to go all out with underground cellars and generators galore, but you can stick with the basics that will help you out tremendously in case of an emergency.

You should at least have these things: (and keep it together/know where they are!)

-flashlight (make sure the batteries are fresh)

-candles (with lighter/matches)

-bottles of filtered water

-keep your important papers in a safe but easily accessible place in case you need to grab them quickly

This website suggests a Go Bag with items necessary for being prepared. It also gives information on what to do in any disaster situation. At least read through because knowledge is power. Stay informed!

Another extremely helpful website is FEMA. They have articles that help you plan and prepare, recover and rebuild, apply for assistance, and you can look at disasters and maps. Make sure to "Like" FEMA on Facebook to get preparedness and disaster related info directly from FEMA. And if you didn't know, FEMA stands for "Federal Emergency Management Agency".

You've got time right now, go look now and get ready!! Southern California has a 94% probability of a 7.0 magnitude or greater earthquake in the next 30yrs. I will post back with my safety kit and what I've done to prepare.

COMING UP: Hubby's birthday (on St. Patrick's Day!), losing 10lbs, & I haven't forgotten about the stars!!! 

It's Been A Rough Week!!

Quick Recap - the baby got sick, runny stuffy nose and we moved at night with no lights and a crying baby!

We are finally in our new home! I still have some unpacking to do in the kitchen and bathroom but the bathroom has to wait because we need more shelves! (no place to put anything at the moment) The baby has been a fussy one and it's been a veerrrryyyy long week. With her not being able to breath out of her nose from time to time and being in a new environment, I am sure this is all very overwhelming to her.

We were supposed to move on the 1st but my husband worked all day so he took off the next day. I had already had the gas and electric switched over so after we did our errand we had, we came home to no power! We had to pack and move in the dark with a few candles but we managed to do it!

Home Sweet Home

I want to share some products that have helped me with the baby being sick. The first product is called Nosefrida. Instead of using the nasal aspirator (bulb) to suck out the boogers/snot you use your mouth/breath to suck it out for the baby. I know it sounds gross but it really works and makes a lot of sense! With the bulb, you only have so much suction to pull boogers out. Depending how much breath you have, you can suck a lot out in one breath! It's a bit pricey but totally worth it. It's for small noses and since they say babies/kids get sick 4-5 times a year, it will come in handy I am sure. You can order it at Amazon or if you need it right now, check out your local Whole Foods which is where I got mine for $15.99. I also got the extra filters because it says you should change it every time you use it.

Another product I want to share is Boogie Wipes! They are wipes that have saline on them so I find that they easily grab the snot/boogers better than a regular wipe and not as harsh as a tissue. They have two scents, grape and fresh scent. I recommend fresh scent because the grape is a bit overwhelming and I regret getting that one. You can get these at Target for $3.99.

COMING UP: My attempt at decorating this house, getting back into shape with some other moms, and hubbys birthday! (st. patricks day)

Hope you enjoyed your weekend!! :-)

Do you know about Amazon Mom?

If you do, that's great! If not, I'll share. A fellow mommy told me about it and now that I am all signed up, I want to share it with you!

Here are the benefits:

-FREE two-day shipping with Amazon Prime benefits

-30% off diapers and wipes with subscribe & save delivery
-Exclusive email discounts and offers

Amazon Mom is a free membership program aimed at helping parents and caregivers, from the prenatal days through the toddler years, use Amazon to find all the products their family needs. 

To join, simply sign into your Amazon account and tell us whether you are a Mom, Dad, or other caregivers of a child. By providing information about your family, you can help us personalize offers, e-mails, and product recommendations to help you find exactly what you need at just the right time. 

Amazon Mom Help Page & FAQ

Join Amazon Mom

COMING UP: We're moving (which means lots of decorating!!), some astrology (why not?) & Starting cloth diapering!

Old Navy Presents Super C-U-T-E!

I saw this commercial on the TV last night and I was blown away! This was a well put together commercial and Old Navy has got me SOLD! I want everything she is wearing, from her clothes, to her shoes and accessories. I even want her hair and make up!

I'm going for her jeans and they're on sale right now till 2/24 so HURRY and get some jeans for $19.50!!! Or if you're an online shopper,(which I am but since having the baby I might need to try some jeans on first before buying :]) go visit Old Navy!

Singer Sew Very Easy House Party & ArtsCow!

My birthday was Friday the 18th and it was a good birthday! :-) I had some mommy friends over, all of whom I have met thanks to BabyCenter! It was my daughters first real interaction with other babies and at first she was scared but she got used to it! She skipped her nap and stayed awake for 5 hours! (she usually naps every 2-2.5hrs) My husband came home with an awesome cake and flowers and my day could not have been any better. (picture editing compliments of Picnik)


Onto other things! I got an email from House Party to apply to host a Singer Sew Very Easy house party! Cross your fingers for me! The party is to take place Friday, May 6 - Sunday, May 8. Here are some highlights of hosting this house party:


If selected as a host, you will receive:

• Complimentary use of a new SINGER^® Confidence Stylist^™ sewing machine
• Attendance to an exclusive "Host Only" machine orientation
• Special offers and discounts for you and your guests from Viking Sewing Gallery and Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores
• A complimentary copy of Ready, Set, Sew! DVD with projects from "The Martha Stewart Show"
• An exclusive sewing project and sewing tips created by the experts at SINGER^® Sewing
• A FREE Party Pack including lots of other goodies for you and your guests

Interested? Go apply!






________________________________________________________________

I also wanted to share a great photo gift website, ArtsCow.

From the website: Create unique photo gifts by putting your favorite faces onto our complete range of customizable photo products. Whether it’s rekindling fond memories with our photo mugs and photo key chains or reminding grandparents with photo gifts such as watches, umbrellas and photo bags, ArtsCow have them all. In addition, we have over 30 different versions of photo books, prints and photo canvas prints to choose from. Browse through our range of photo products for gift ideas for any holiday occasions and special events.




Why do I like this website? When you sign up on their website you receive email offers for free photo items. The catch is you have to pay shipping and you have to put in the code on your account before it expires. I've missed too many opportunities for good photo gifts so make sure you check your email often! The most recent one they sent was for 10 free photo books. You have a year to use them and you can do 3 per month.

I found out about this website when they were giving away free mousepads, completely free! I am still using this mousepad and the quality of their products are outstanding. Customers can post reviews of photo items they've ordered as well as pictures. Through these pictures you can see the quality right from the customers hand. Check it out!

Jeep Liberty Limited Urban Terrain Stroller

So Valentines Day came and went, very fast I might add. My husband had off so we took advantage of museum month and went to the aquarium thanks to Macy's half price pamphlet! We had a blast!

Now to review the stroller I received as an early birthday present from my aunt! :-)

Jeep Liberty Limited 3 Wheel All Terrain Stroller by Kolcraft

I did a bit of research before choosing the stroller that would be in our family for some time. I always knew I wanted a three wheeled stroller and thought of the possibility of jogging. This stroller is NOT a jogger but Jeep does have a more expensive stroller that you can use for jogging. 

I was torn between this stroller and Baby Trend stroller. I chose this stroller because the reviews were much better and you can't beat the quality for the price. With this stroller the only bad thing I read as far as reviews go was that its too heavy/bulky. I agree somewhat, I am a pretty strong lady so I don't complain much but the bulky factor is testy sometimes! It fits in our car though so I am very happy.

About the stroller:

-Infant car seat compatible (chicco key fit, graco safe seat, graco snug ride, & peg perego primo viaggio SIP)
-Front swivel wheel turns easily (also locks in place)
-iBaby sound system for iPod and MP3 players (this I have not tried yet)
-Easily fold, one hand and stand function (getting it to open is weird but not tough)
-Entertainment tray with horn, car sounds, & music (its too far for our baby to use, maybe for bigger kids)
-Dual cup and snack tray
-Large basket plus removable cargo bags (I like the basket but its not deep, its long, I feel like someone could just grab my purse and go!)
-Grow with me 5 point harness (not much to say about this)


Overall, I give it a 4.5 stars! I love the way it maneuvers, and you can move it with one hand. It's a bit big so I've run into a few things so I wouldn't suggest it for stores with small aisles. Its a must for an all day adventure. It needs batteries for the music and the steering wheel toy so make sure you get AAA and AA. Our baby is 7months and the shoulder straps are a tad large but I do feel she is safe in there. There is definitely a lot of room to grow. 

This stroller fits well in our family and I plan to use it for future kids! My husband is 6' and he doesn't kick it when he "strolls" it!I recommend this stroller and right now its $128 at Amazon! Check it out!

COMING UP: my birthday is tomorrow!, We're moving into a house! (its been such a busy month)

Mommy has been a busy bee!

It's been a while since I have posted! So much is going on and not to mention earlier this week I haven't been feeling well, but I am back! I hope I was missed a tad :-)

I'll start with my daughters Valentines Day Dress! I did a "pillowcase" dress without using a pillowcase and made some baby shoes to go along with it. The dress turned out great but I don't think this is my favorite dress. It is easy to make and I would suggest having some ribbon for the ties but I myself just made ties with contrasting fabric that I used for the shoes.

Even after I cut the pattern pieces bigger since the last incident of the purple toe (earlier post), the shoes STILL didn't fit!! :-( I think maybe the elastic was too tight. Trial and error, trial and error! You can find the tutorial for this dress here. She uses bias tape and that is something I have not worked with yet but I am sure I will in the future!


Valentines Day Mini Photo Shoot:

And here is one of the dress without the jacket:

Not so bad eh? :-) I still need to edit the photos but picnik.com is being a P.I.T.A.!!! It's having problems making a secure connection with my computer. I am bummed! I did some editing with fotoflexer.com but I don't like them as much. I guess I will have to settle since I tried EVERYTHING to make it work!

I'D ALSO LIKE TO SHARE, a gift for my Aunt's birthday. Her birthday is this Sunday so I sewed her a few small things. Here they are:

We have a flower pin, pocket tissue holder, checkbook cover, and keychain wristlet. You can find the checkbook tutorial here. The rest of the tutorials are in my previous blog posts :-)


Hope you enjoyed!

COMING UP: Valentines Day, Jeep Liberty Stroller Review.

HAPPY FEBRUARY!

February is here already! Can you believe it!? There are a few things I am excited about this month!

-Valentines Day
-Filing taxes (which means hopefully another car!)
-My Birthday!
-Going back to work (which isn't extremely exciting but 2 incomes is always great!)
-Getting back to pre-pregnancy weight (10-15lbs to go, this is the month!!)

I can't believe it has almost been a year since I stopped working! Its now time to get back on it however because Mommy and Daddy want so much for our little one. I can't believe how much time is flying, she will be 7months this month! Tomorrow she gets her shots but today she isn't feeling so well; hopefully we won't have to postpone the appointment.

On to other things - SO, I know I said checkbook cover coming soon, BUT, I ran out of black thread so I will have to make yet another trip to Jo-Ann's!

I did however make some baby shoes!! The first try went well, I had a few pieces that were backwards on each shoe and the elastic wasn't tight enough (also my first time working with elastic) but the second pair turned out much better! The pattern I used was 0-6ms and one shoe was a tad smaller than the other and gave my baby a PURPLE toe! She will not be wearing those again but its all fun practice!

Here are the shoes I made with this tutorial . Its a very easy pattern, just make sure when you are doing it you follow the pictures or print the page out. I just wrote the instructions down which explains why my first pair didn't turn out so well! ;-)

^^These are the first pair. Eek I know!

^^Second pair, not perfect, but much better! I really am learning as I go. *Don't you just love those little legs :-D*

COMING UP: Baby Valentines Day outfit (shoes included!), Hubby's Valentines Day present, Black History Month.

I'm SEW Excited!!!

OK! After some trial and error and a few trips to Joanns, I have finally finished my second sewing project on my machine! (my first project was a cube for my daughter which turned out pretty well!) Right now I am working on something for my Aunts birthday. Her birthday is February 13, so I've been trying to figure out some simple and easy things to make her since I am a beginner.

I finally made a keychain wristlet (this one I am keeping and you will see why). First I would like to share what I have learned so far. I still can't believe what a huge learning process sewing is! Since first starting the keychain wristlet, I have learned:

-more about my machine!
-how to sew a straight line
-I can adjust the pressure of the presser foot to help easily maneuver fabrics
-don't sew with dull needles!
-to make sure I read tutorials 2-3 times before I start
-to cut fabric with precision (this is key when sewing! It will make your creations come out more professional looking if you really take your time)
-to finally wind the bobbin (when I first received my machine, there was a preloaded bobbin all ready to go for me so I just kept with it)
-I am getting more familiar with how to thread the machine without the manual :)
-that my bobbin tension may be too tight
-that I got WAY too excited when I finally completed this project. (I literally ran around my home and jumped with joy that I made something I can use! Its very exciting)

So finally, here is my keychain wristlet that I made with this tutorial. NOTE - She recommends using a heavy fabric such as cotton canvas which I didn't do because I don't have that but mine turned out just fine! I just used one of my more firmer fabrics. That is the next thing I need to learn, fabrics!!!

So obviously you can see my stitches and they're very crazy but I will work on that for the next one. What matters most is that I can use it!

COMING UP: I'm going to try my hand at a checkbook cover, Valentines Day photo shoot with my baby, a talk about the stars, & my birthday!

Enjoy your weekend! :-D

The Best Blog For Beginner Sewing!!

Since I am new to sewing, I have been searching and searching for tutorials, books, whatever I can to learn more and more. What I have found is lots of pictures or good instruction but it hasnt been enough for me. Of course, there's no better way to learn than actually seeing. I stumbled upon this awesome blog called Couturier Mommy and 95% of her blogs are video!!

I'm so happy I found her because even when I looked for videos on youtube, what I wanted wasn't coming up. Now I feel confident enough to go back to my sewing machine and try again. (I just suffered a major sewing fail for the most simple thing. MAYBE I will post pictures but its pretty terrible!)

Anyway, here is her blog . I hope you enjoy her as much as I do and she is as helpful to you as she is to me!

Great Photo Editing Website!

I found a great website for easy and fun photo editing. I ordered some enlargements from the $10 promotional Shutterfly card I received from photos with Santa! I can't wait to see how they turn print. Here's how mine turned out:

 

Go have fun at Picnik!

I Shined My Sink Thanks to The Flylady

I read a post on the internet of someone who shined their sink. I was confused at first but when I opened it I saw a picture of a glossy silver sink! I immediately knew I wanted to do the same. Here is how my sink turned out: (I wish I had a before picture!)

Lets see if we can keep it this way! I used comet to clean with a dish scrubbing brush. While my sink was soaking, I cleaned underneath my sink and I suggest that you do the same! My sink is a little old so depending on your sink, it might come out more shiny than mine! It sure didn't look this way when we moved in!

The FlyLady helps you get over the "Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome" (CHAOS). I've been following her for a few weeks now and magically my home is becoming cleaner and I am getting into better habits. I wont be using the excuse of having a baby for my cluttered home.

"Step through the door and follow The FlyLady as she weaves her way through housecleaning and organizing tips with homespun humor, daily musings about life and love, the Sidetracked Home Executives (SHE) system, and anything else that is on her mind."

Grandma's Handmade Birthday Present

I am new to sewing and have been doing it by hand until this week when I received my sewing machine. I wanted to sew my grandmother something for her birthday but I knew it had to be simple since I was doing it by hand. I decided to do pocket tissue holder and a fabric flower pin. Here's how it turned out.

I am very pleased how it turned out! I hope that she likes it. For the pocket tissue holder, you can find the tutorial I used here. I didn't quite follow it to perfection because at the time I was using a measuring tape for a ruler! I have a nice ruler now so we won't have to worry about that anymore LOL! Here is the link for the fabric flower. I am obsessed with these flower, they are so easy to make and very customizable! I plan to make lots more!

COMING UP: Shining my sink!

Hope you are having a great weekend! :-D

Super Deluxe Zig Zag Sewing Machine; my first

My Grandfather sent me my Grandmothers sewing machine! The package weighed a whopping 47lbs. It was purchased in 1958 and it was his first Christmas present to her. She used it a bit and now I am happy to have it and put it in good use again. Now when I sew, she can watch down on me and bless my future projects because Lord knows I will need it!

After reading through the manual and cleaning it and oiling it thoroughly I gave it a go and she runs well! I grabbed some scrap fabric I had to put her to the test. Here is how we turned out. (I say we because I am learning the foot pedal, you will see)

Its a hat! Just kidding. As you can see, I have to get used to it. I have to admit, its intimidating. I almost want to go back to hand sewing! Sewing is a lot of work and there's a lot of components to it that I didn't know about. I'm sure newer machines are easier but I like this machine. Its made out of metal so it wont break as easy as plastic. So long as I clean all of the lint out and keep it oiled, she should keep on running! I'm going to take it slow and be patient. I need to do a little more reading and I will be ready to go!

COMING UP: My Grandmothers (dad's side) birthday present (hand sewn items!) :) 

Mommy Learned a Lesson

Today we went to the zoo! I am always good to make sure that I have everything before I leave especially if its going to be a long day out. Today I felt so good because I knew I had everything! On the way to the zoo I was saying out loud to my husband everything that I needed and I had it. I was feeling really good and excited to share the experience with our little one!

Here is where I learned my lesson. It was so cold at the park! I didn't plan for this! I had checked the weather this morning and it said 73 and Partly Cloudy. All day it was very cloudy and didn't budge over 60! Mommy was very cold and so glad little one had 2 layers on. She should have had a jacket but at least she had two blankets.

My Lesson Learned: Never leave the house without a jacket! Always be prepared for the unknown. As a mommy, we only have so many strikes for mistakes but this will be the last for me. If its 100 degrees, I will have a jacket! :-D

Things that will never leave the diaper bag
1 - Diapers
2 - Wipes
3 - Blankets
4 - Extra Outfit
5 - Socks
6 - Toys
7 - Hand Sanitizer
8 - JACKET!
9 - Warm hat
10 - Water bottle (you never know)
11 - Tissues/napkins
12 - Mommy things (cell phone, cash, wallet, ID, pen, chapstick etc.)
13 - Food (if necessary, I breastfeed so the food is attached to me! Can't ever leave without it!)
14 - Baby health insurance card
15 - Camera!

If you can think of anything else feel free to add! Of course this list can be adjusted to your outing but like I said, you never know. Some think they don't want to over pack but I would rather have more than less like today. Even if you don't want to lug all these things around, at least keep it in the car. When you thought you would only be out for an hour or two, you're gone longer so its always good to be prepared! Hope you all had a nice day. :)

I treasure my life

I am starting this blog in hopes to getting people to treasure their life more. I feel that I am unique and everyone should feel this way because you are. We all have a story but many people are turned down by the cover of the book. This is also a way to help me with my inner confidence and help me to express myself. I have always felt I am better expressed with words in writing.

I wanted to share with you my simple pleasures of my life and let you in to my view of the world. I hope to learn from this and hope to share something new to all those who read, even if its only one person. I'll try stuff out and you can help me along the way. I am not perfect but I try my best :)

COMING UP: Lots of sewing projects and crafts, decorating, life as a mommy and wife, valentines day, various happenings, etc.