finally! snow

3 Years of Divaness

Happy Birthday Baby Diva!

It's the Simple Things

I hopped from here to there and then there and came across Christina at Soul Aperture; the simple things. She's challenged us to BLOG about the simple things that bring joy to our lives. Then, you link up at her BLOG and for everyone who participates, her family will donate $1 to Doctors Without Borders. Pretty easy, no?

So, you know that I can't just simply follow the rules, I have to bend them a wee bit. So, I am going to BLOG about the simple things that make an (almost) 2 year old happy ...
*
an unattended Swiffer
opening the refrigerator
closing the refrigerator
opening the refrigerator
(you get the idea)
a fresh pack of yogurt raisins
your sister's favorite doll
bare feet on wet grass
showers with daddy
**
big brothers
taking socks off of unsuspecting folks
pink plastic shoes
helping momma vacuum
an open door
sugar-free popsicles at 8am
books
Nana
***
empty boxes
warm baths to splash in
puppies
rubber ducks
soft touches on sleepy faces
the moon
balloons
free lollipops for haircuts
****
momma's arms in the dark night
the last sip of coffee forgotten in a cup
warm cookies
cold milk
flashlights
walking on tiptoes
bubbles
*****

And you?

So You Say It's Your Birthday?

Trying out the new camera and Millie's birthday digs. Silas said that he'd show me his birthday outfit and started to strip naked (he is SO his father!)

Five Words Meme: A Psychological Test

Remember when your mom used to nag you about getting your homework done? Well, you know you're in trouble when she starts fussing at you because you aren't updating your BLOG.

My Bloggy Buddy Jenners at Life with a Little One and More had a neat MEME over at her place. It's one of those Rorschach type tests. She gave me 5 words and I am supposed to say the first thing that comes to mind.

She said: fuzzy
I thought: navel
Analysis: What's funny about this is the fact that I am not, nor ever have been a drinker. I had to GOOGLE how to make one. It has peach schnapps, rum and orange juice.


She said: pajamas
I thought: Llama, Llama Red Pajamas
Analysis: If you have kids and don't have this book, run now and get it. Your kids will want you to read it over and over again. And actually, this is one book you won't mind reading so much.


She said: moon
I thought: full
Analysis: There's nothing quite as neat as a full moon. No, not bare naked hiney. I'm talking about that big rock out there in space. Sickos. Oddly enough, one of the first words my kids learn is moon. They always love when you can still see the moon during the daytime.


She said: wood
I thought: Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening
Analysis: When I was little, I was always amazed that my mom knew this poem line for line. She had to memorize it in grade school. It is a beautiful poem on so many levels. Ah, Robert Frost ...
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

She said: art
I thought: life imitates
Analysis: It's an Oscar Wilde quote: "Paradoxically though it may seem, it is none the less true that life imitates art far more than art imitates life." Very true.


If you want your own five words, leave me a comment and I'll be glad to send you some.

SUPER MARIO CLIPART

Charm Pack Twirl Skirt Tutorial

Ingredients:

1 -2 Charm Packs (you’ll probably need one with a minimum of 42 pieces) *
1 inch non-roll elastic
Coordinating fabric for the waist band
12 month – 18 month – 19” by 4”
2T – 21” by 4”
3T – 4T - 23” by 4”
*I used the Love U pack by Deb Strain
**Seams are ¼ inch


1. Place your pre-cut squares in three equal rows. You can use any number of squares depending on how full you want the skirt to be. I used 14 squares/ row.

2. Place each square, right sides together and sew the right side. Repeat until you have a long strand of squares sewn together. Iron the seams flat.


3. Place row 1 and row 2 together with right sides facing. Sew along the top edge of your long rows, sewing the 2 pieces together. Unfold and iron your seam.

4. Take your row 1 and 2 piece and fold it in half, right sides together. Sew the open end to make a large loop of fabric.

5. Prepare your hem piece. Fold row 3 in half, right sides facing and sew the open end to make a large loop of fabric. Iron your seam.

6. Turn your third row right side out (now a large loop). Fold it in half the entire length of the loop and iron flat.

7. Sew the hem band onto the top (row 1/2) piece. The top piece should be right side out. Line the hem band up with the bottom of the top piece. I like to make my pieces offset a bit so that the lines aren’t lined up exactly. Slip the top piece inside your hem band and pin together.



8. Sew the top piece and the hem band together and finish the edges.

9. Fold the hem band out and iron flat.

10. Prepare your waist band. Fold your waist band fabric in half lengthwise and iron. Top stitch along the top fold of the fabric.


11. Sew the hem band to the skirt body. Gather small segments of the skirt together and pin to the hem band at regular intervals (right sides facing).


12. Sew together and finish the seams.

13. Remove the pins and iron flat.

14. Cut your length of elastic as directed on the package. Place a large safety pin through one end and run the elastic through your hem band.

15. Pull the elastic tight. Pin together and stitch. Trim lose pieces of elastic.

16. Slide the elastic around so that the sewn edge is hidden in the hem band casing. Push one side of the hem band fabric into the casing and fold the other side flat with a small lip pushed under. Sew this closed.

You are finished!