Camera Strap

This morning I enlisted my mom in helping me make a camera strap for my Canon Rebel. I have seen them for about two years for sale in Etsy, and have loved the idea of them. I shyed away from buying one as I loved the girly prints and I figured Dave would probably be embarrassed to use a girly looking camera. However I have been looking at some tutorials on how to make them, and today I took the plunge with my mom guiding me. I followed this tutorial: camera strap how to

I did it at her house, and did it on her machine, which is a million more times more complicated then mine and scared the bejesus out of me. I didn't sew it on my strap like the directions called for though, I just tucked the ends other. I think you need to add more to the width though as though the directions to call to make it snug, the directions just made it waaaay to snug....but I do like my end product. Yes it is super girly, but Dave rarely uses my camera anyways, and hey he's out numbered in our household full of girls!

Starfish reveal

So above in the tip tops of my windows in the living room are the starfish I have made so far... I want to make two more and then my project will be complete. No you can't have a close up because then you will see that it looks like a preschooler has sewn these sea urchins. I do like them though and think they are fun. After I messed with my starfish project for a while I made a pillow for Rachel's room that matches the blue and green bedding she has. I had to do a nice simple project I could master after struggling with the star fish for an ego boost.

For my projects my mom talking me into ironining the fabrics, and pressing them.... Truth be told I ironed more yesterday then I have probably in 6 or more years... She actually gave me back my table top ironing board that she got me to take to college back in 98. I just don't iron things... I don't buy anything that needs to be ironed, and if something really needed to be ironed I would talk my mom into doing it for me... (maybe 2-3 times a year tops) She's nice like that lol. I guess I can't get away with doing that anymore though.

Awesome website!

While I was facebooking I some how another came across someones facebook page that had a link to a blog/website. The site belongs to a girl I went to college with. I didn't know her that well, but my freshman year she lived on the same floor as me. Her blog is simply amazing! She's a crafter and has three girls. She's also just getting into digital scrapbooking (I bet she gets addicted soon!) Her pictures are awesome too. I so wish I could get the hang out of editing pictures to make the colors look so vibrant. I was inspired to attempt to make my stuffed starfish again after seeing her blog, and this time I didn't fail.... Of course my mom gave me some pointers on how not flub up again. I plan on making a bunch more to sit in my windows in the living room. I promise to take a picture when I am done.

In the mean time please check out Jamie's blog and her etsy shop for some creative ideas! http://www.aforestfrolic.com

Dentist Success!

Laura was a champ at the dentist office yesterday! She did great at her first visit and got a good report. she has a slight underbite, so braces will probably be in her future down the road, but that's ok. For being such a big girl we had a trip to the mall last night to visit Claire's Boutique where she picked out a sparkly pink headband.

I broke out my sewing machine and attempted to make stuffed starfish out of some material. It was a total failure.... I didn't have a pattern, so I just cut out a starfish shape, but I had the hardest time trying to sew something that isn't in a straight line.... I however at least remember how to thread the machine and wind the bobbin...Guess I need to get my mom to help me figure it out. What a let down.

Rachel Birthday Pictures

I thought I would share some birthday pics from Rachel's 3rd birthday. She was excited about having her birthday, and all she kepts asking for was her cake! She's a girl who loves her sweets! She wanted to wear her birthday crown that she made at preschool.

Rachel's big gift from us was a Dora bike. She also got lots of clothes, some super cute bathing suits and beach cover ups, finger nail polish, etc. Speaking of which we have some major spring fever in this house! I can not wait until spring/summer! Lazy days by the pool and lot of bike rides!

It's almost friday...

I have been such a terrible blogger lately. I swear though I have started to blog numerous times, and then I get caught up in something and never hit the publish button. I have been busy with work, kids stuff, birthday planning (my middle baby just turned 3 yesterday)school registration, etc etc. When I have had a moment to breath I have been busy with my digital scrapbooking.

I printed off an obscene amount of pages this week at Costco. I don’t even know if all of them will fit in my album. I still have to scrapbook some Christmas pictures, and then 2009 album will be done. Crazy enough I actually have to go back and do some 2008 stuff because that album never got done. I have 2010 caught up, and please don’t ask me why I went ahead and started that when I had older projects to work on. It’s almost been a year since I went full on digital for my scrapbooking, and I have to say I don’t know if I will go back to traditional ever. I love how non-messy it is, how I can find so much more time for it since all I have to do is whip out my lap top, I love all the freebies out there, and I love the CM digital programs to organize and edit my pictures, and to create my pages.

Tomorrow saw a little prayer for me as I am taking my oldest daughter to the dentist. She’s been before with me to see them clean my teeth and have the exam, but this will be her first exam. I have been trying to talk it up about how much fun it is, but I am not sure she’s buying my song and dance about the awesomeness of the dentist. And yes I am taking the camera because I found some cute dentist scrapbooking freebies lol.

More Random Stuff

* Tonight I am doing a hot yoga class and I have not been in a long time… I am excited to go back and use my nice gift card there that I got for Christmas. I need to sweat off some of this weight.

• I have noticed my gym has been crowded lately, more so then right after New Years… Maybe some people are starting to diet and work out now more then after Valentine’s Day.
• My wonderful hubby got me the watch I wanted that I posted about a few posts down- I like it but the watch face is freaking HUGE. I look like a pimp now.
• I finally got around to upgrading my Creative Memories digital scrapbook software to the newer version and it is sooo freaking cool. Lots of newer tools on the 3.0 version. I have not made anything yet with it, but will soon. I am getting behind again on my scrapping… truth be told I made my inlaws books for Christmas but I have not printed those pages for my own book yet…I am actually waiting for my Costco rewards check to come in cause it’s going to be a doozy of a bill to print all of those pages at once. I did make Birthday Invites for my girls birthdays, and they turned out super cute. I also made “mommy cards”. Mommy cards are like business cards and can be used for playdates, but truth be told, I made them and never printed them because I think I would feel like a tool ever passing them out and be laughed at.
• I am making more of an effort to diet now that the husband is on the Fit Train as well. Truth be told with all the snow we have had lately I have been eating like a hoss. What is it with bad weather and eating? I always get out of control when bad weather strikes. Today I am trying to be good and I have a freaking Soup in Hand to for lunch and almonds. I am probably going to be cranky later today.

I am excited about something new I am getting involved in through my local newspaper. There is a column in it, that I have enjoyed reading for a while called the Savy Shopper, and the writter was looking to put together a deal spotter team, and I got to be included in it. Tuesday the newspaper is running a story about it and I even will have my picture in it with the rest of the team members. I am excited because I love finding deals, and I love hearing about deals, so now I can share them with other people! I think it's really neat because there are lots of deal spotting blogs and things in areas, but nothing really local, so I get to be a part of the first type of thing like that in this area. Let's hope my picture doesn't make me look like too much of a goober!

weekend recap

This weekend was busy! My oldest little munchkin turned 4 years old! We also caught some of the snow the mid-atlantic was having, but nothing major. We were stuck inside though which was disappointing because we had planned on renting a big jumping thing or a big blow up slide for the back yard. We had family and a few close friends over, and believe me, that was more then enough in our house. Oh how I wish my girls had summer birthdays....Anyways, her party was fun, and she got spoiled with clothing, a new bike, art stuff, and High School musical movies. Later that day, Rachel had a birthday party to attend from a friend at school, and it was the cutest party ever! The mom did a princess theme, and it was every little girls dream birthday party. Seriously, she thought of everything!

Sunday we had a super bowl party at our house. It was kinda spur of the moment... Dave called me Friday on my way home from work and wanted to know what his friend and his wife should bring over, and I was like what? what do you mean we are having people over to watch the game? Honestly, I could care less about watching any sport on TV. I just can't pay attention long enough. I have to be at a game in person, or I just don't care. And this is coming from someone who loves to play sports...terrible I know, but that's me.... I only wanted the Colts to win because I really like Kendra from E. Anyways, while I was prepping for two people to come over, I decieded if I was going to make an effort we might as well invite more people over. It was fun, and I really enjoyed stuffing myself, drinking some wine, and watching the commericals.....

5 things I am loving...

1. Weeds Season 5- We are watching this via Netflix, and I can't tell you enough what a good show this is...Between this and Dexter I wish we had Showtime... It's funny, a little scary, and just kinda jaw dropping. We just watched disc one, and I am excited to get disc two in the mail possibly today...

2. Tory Burch Sophia Wedges- I got the patent croc version via major sale on toryburch.com thanks to shopittome.com alerts... My favorite shoes hands down... I got the flats for Christmas from the husband and I love those, but for a heel shoe, these are so comfy and look amazing. Wedges just totally rock, make your feet look small, and give you lots of height that equals make you look about 5lbs less then you really are... Let me tell ya, if I can find some more on major sale I am going to gobble them up. I really want some brown ones...

3. My LV neverfull bag... I got the medium version on New Year's Day. I know crazy expensive, but I sold my elliptical to fund this purchase, and I will get a lot more use out of my bag then the elliptical that was just collecting dust...I am sure I will never own another LV bag, unless we hit the lottery, but this one is all I need. (ps I really need a matching wallet though lol) It's perfect. It holds everything, the straps can hold up to 400lbs of weight, I smile everytime I see this sucker, and I would sleep with it if I wasn't afraid to hurt it. Seriously, I love this bag, and god help someone who tried to pry it out of my hands. I will take you down.

4. Aragan Oil- I get this at Sally's. It's comparable to Morocon Oil, which is serious hair crack. However Morocon Oil is like $40 a bottle. The Morocon Oil bottle will last you seriously over a year, but I was low on cash, when I ran out and went with this. It seems a little more water downed then Morocon Oil, but if I use more its basically the same. Either oil is wonderful to help detangle your hair, give it some moisure without being greasy, smells amazing, and it can also be a good finishes to tame fly aways. It's been amazing to help calm my hair down from all the chemical madness with dying my hair and then bleaching the hoo hoo out of it to get some of the red out.

5. This nail color by Opi which is called "you don't know jaques" or something, I just got put on my nails when I got a manicure yesterday. It's a deep taupe, and looks good on my short nails.

Mom's just can't have sick days....

Emily baby girl we gotta talk...you have to cut me a break. I stayed home today after catching the lovely stomach bug from my kids that they all shared with me. Of course it hit me at 2am and I was unable to go back to bed afterward, so basically I was a zombie all day. However, I was pretty alert this morning when I went in Emily's room to get her out of her crib and she had gone to the bathroom in her diaper, and "gotten curious". It was everywhere, and the smell did not help me feel any better. It was like the grand finale after cleaning up throw up this past weekend. That is all- I am off to bed now.

Me likey...

I have had a lot of time on my hands with being stuck inside the house during Winter Storm 2010, and with some sick kiddos who have had a flu bug. I have spent some time window shopping on the computer, and things things I am drooling over.....

The watch is ToyWatch, the flip flops are Tory Burch, and the ring is David Yurman. Looking at these items just make me all warm inside....