baby bump: 24 weeks.

All I have to say is that I’m hungry and swollen 24/7. I have suddenly become a Thanksgiving Day blimp of a pregnant woman. I have kankles and cracked dry skin and I’m not so pleased about the 90 degree weather we’re been having lately. I know I sound like a sour puss; I’m going to blame the pregnancy for that one.



Yesterday I tried to put on my favorite comfy/frumpy but still cute preggo shirt… I could barely breathe… Needless to say that sent me on a whirl wind of emotions. It’s amazing how over night my stomach can grow twice its regular size. This little girl is a giant! This led me to the idea of going shopping last night. Maybe find a few spring dresses to wear during the really hot days in Phoenix. This doesn’t seem like a terrible task, right? I guess I was wrong.

I have always hated clothes shopping. I love clothes and fashion, don’t get me wrong, I just get so frustrated at spending money on it. I didn’t even go anywhere fancy to try and find something. I figured Target and Wal-Mart would be good stops. I’m hoping I only have to wear these clothes for a few months so I didn’t want to spend a boat load of money or anything. Some people may say I’m cheap, and I am, I can admit that. Something just gets to me when I see a cute simple, yet mass produced, dress that I have to pay even $25.00 for. I know that it was probably made by some poor woman making pennies an hour, cranking out hundreds of the same silly frock over and over again.

After making a few purchases I ended up driving home, in tears, calling my husband complaining about my horrible experience. He laughed a little. I go through this same thing just about every time I go shopping. My husband calmed me down and rationalized the situation with me. He helped me come to the conclusions that if I don’t want to buy something from a store, why not just make it myself? I’ve always been happier with things I’ve made than anything I’ve bought from a store, so why should a dress be any different? So I’m challenging myself to create a summer dress. I’m going to return the clothes I bought and get myself some fabric and go at it. I’m terrified! I’m not sure my sewing skills are really up for this but what have I go to lose!

If you know of any good dress patterns or sewing tutorials please send them my way! I’m determined to make this happen. Sorry about the clothing rant, I couldn’t contain myself. Thanks for sticking it out!

meet a new friend.

I would like you to meet Mr. Jasper Lee Hopsalot, brother to Mr. Carlton Huebert Hopsalot.



Jasper was created to send to a little girl, for Easter, who lives far far away and I love very dearly, but haven’t gotten to see in a very long time. I wasn’t going to share him until after I knew the package had arrived for her but I just couldn’t help myself.




Mr. Jasper Lee spends a lot of his time rescuing is older, but not wiser, brother Carlton from the neighbor’s cat. He enjoys reading, and crunching numbers as well as a rambunctious game of peek-a-boo but don’t tell anyone! He’ll never admit it.

overcoming my fear: the first attempt.

Although I wouldn’t add seamstress to my list of talents I did finally break out my sewing machine and use it. I posted a little while ago how I wanted to overcome my fear of the sewing machine, I’m still a little skittish around it but I’m using it.

I started a project a long time ago that I really wanted to try. I’ve always wanted to make a little stuffed animal. It may have been my love of plush toys when I was a kid, or all of the cute toys on Etsy, but I knew I had to at least TRY and make one. Try was the key word here…

Without further delay I would like you to meet my new little friend:





He enjoys lazy walks through the garden, and sipping tea with a good book. He comes from a long line of rabbits and has more sisters than he can count. Although he is a fairly well mannered rabbit sometimes he enjoys a good game of chase with the neighbor’s cat, Lulu.

I really like making him. I’m not 100% sure he’s kid friendly, although I know Aurora will end up playing with him. He’s made out of an old t-shirt and a thrifted floral skirt. I think I like the bow tie the best. I didn’t have any stuff so I just used scrap fabric and he is surprisingly not that lumpy.

He does need a name though… hmmm… what do you think his name should be?

*UPDATE*
He has been named Mr. Carlton Huebert Hopsalot.
Thanks everyone!!

Overcoming my fear of…

the sewing machine.


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I consider myself a pretty crafty lady. I’m not the best at everything but I’ll try anything at least one time. I really enjoy finding new outlets for my creativity, and I’m really still trying to find my niche in the crafting world. Back in the days of Home Economics I was a wiz kid on the sewing machine. I made just about everything and I really enjoyed it. I was a “tom boy” though, so sewing wasn’t supposed to fit into the things I did. I stopped soon after those classes ended and never touched a sewing machine again. New that I’m older I wish I never would have stopped. I received a really nice sewing machine from my parents two Christmases ago and it still sits in it case. I’ve attempted to use it a few times, but got frustrated and gave up.


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Traci and Jasmine over at Butter Toast has decided to create a lovely bunting banner to decorate their already beautiful shop. I then began to think of my fear of my sewing machine and home many amazing projects I’m missing out on because I’m too scared to use it. Really, I’m afraid of making mistakes. If I can’t do something perfect the very first time I do it I tend to give up on it. It shouldn’t be that way and I definitely don’t want my kids learning from my poor example! So I’m going to take out the old sewing machine and for the next couple of weeks really give it my best. I have some time off from school, and even though I have a million things on my “to do list”, I think I need to try something new. Who knows what will come of it!


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If you have any tips or sewing machine ticks PLEASE let me know! I’ve been perusing the Burda Style website for some ideas but I can use all the help I can get.

Oh, and thanks to Traci for inspiring me to overcome my fear! (Good luck with the Bunting!!)