Attempting Appliques

I finally tried again and succeeded in doing somewhat of an applique.  I used Sewable Heat N Bond and then rounded it out by sewing zigzag around the edges.  This is a spring outfit I made for Kate:

I then created some Bermuda shorts out of some cute ladybug fabric and put a red shirt with it.

I thought these would be great for Kate when she starts school in the Fall!  Yes, I registered Jack for VPK, 5 days/week and she will go 3 days/week.  I can't believe my babies are getting that big.

You saw Kate's garnet and gold twirl skirt and she wore it to church on Sunday with her bow.  She looked very cute.  Her scratch on her face involved the screen door and me not looking.  Oops!

  

Gymnastics Jack!

We started Jack in gymnastics last week.  We had a trial run last week and he seemed to really like it.  There are 3 boys and 3 girls in his class.  His coach seems really nice and patient to deal with six 3-year olds for 45 minutes.  They "warm up" and run around and stretch.  He definitely has more of Craig's flexibility than mine.  Last week they worked on handstands and flips.  This week they did more flips and got to do the huge trampoline - which he really liked!  Lisa let me borrow her long lens so I could see Jack in the huge gym.  I am hoping to get a video of him next week!

Doing the Bear Walk

 Stretching

 On the trampoline 

 Flips with coach

Dad Gum Girl

Our sweet little girl now has a new phrase - "dad gum".  Mater from Cars seems to be culprit seeing as when we were driving home from church the kids were watching a DVD and as soon as Mater said it, Kate repeated it.  It made me think I better be careful what I say too!  She is also saying tons of other words - mama, daddy, thank you, please, cheese, up, yes, no, I see you, see ya, bye and others.  She is also getting in touch with her girly side and likes to dress up in her skirts.

On a side note, we went to dinner tonight and Jack wore his fireman jacket and fireman hat and Kate had her princess skirt on - yes, I am one of those parents who doesn't care sometimes.  They are kids and it was fun!

 

First "Sew" of 2011

Christmas curtailed my sewing, but since the new year, I have had tons of new ideas and a little more time.  I got some new patterns and fabrics and I am excited about some spring/summer dresses and outfits for Kate.  I made a twirl skirt for Kate with several different fabrics with the garnet and gold colors for our Seminoles.  I was also excited because I made my own bias tape for the first time.  I used it on the bottom and all I did was use the iron and decided how big I wanted it.  When I put it on her, she wanted me to take several pictures of her, so I did!  The pattern is Pouty Princess Double Layer Twirl Skirt from You Can Make This.  Found that new site and love it.  Tons of patterns and neat ideas.  Here are few pics of my baby "picture hog"...

I like how it twirls out when you sit

This dress is my usual, simple A-line (Bonnie Blue Pattern - Madison) and I dressed it up a little.  Ivey Crenshaw (see her blog to the right) takes patterns and does different things with them or adds all types of flair to them and I get some ideas from there.  I put the extra fabric, ribbon and buttons down the front and kept the back simple with one button top center on the back.  LOVED the lighthouse fabric when I found it and got it for like $2/yard on Joann's Red Tag Table.  Should be a fun summer dress.

Changing Me and Saving the Change

With the new year, you always think of things to change, kind of like a fresh start.  There weren't any resolutions made this year by me, but the main things that have been on my mind lately is finding more joy in my Savior and really feeling His love.  I have such a "judge" view of God, I don't see Him as the "daddy" that some do.  Secondly, we looked over our finances last year and we spent way too much on frivolous stuff.  I feel like it is a waste and not a good steward of what God has given to us.  Now, we aren't jumping on the Dave Ramsey band-wagon yet, but baby steps.  I really realized we spent WAY too much on food - eating out and groceries.  For 2 adults and 2 kids (toddlers, at that), we shouldn't need to spend as much as we were.  So, I am trying to spend less at the grocery.  I watched Extreme Couponing on TLC last week and was somewhat inspired.  Am I going to convert my garage into a food storage facility and buy 300 toothbrushes and hand-soap for the next 2 years?  NO.  I just want to use what is on the internet, in papers and what deals stores offer.  My store of choice is Publix (well, my dad work 20 years for them, I have to support them) and they usually have pretty good deals.  There BOGO's are always nice and they don't argue about Coupons.  Wal-Mart is another place, but I try to avoid their lines like the plague.  A couple things that worked for me are these:

• Use websites to help you find deals.  My sister-in-law's friend, Ashley hosts Frugal Coupon Living (click on the button to the right).  I also check out MoneySavingMom and a few others - there are tons out there!  
• My issue is that some of the stuff that is a "great deal" I don't use or buy.  So, when the things I like are on sale or even if they aren't, I go directly to the company website.  Most have coupons.  For example, the Jimmy D-Lights Breakfast Sandwiches I bought this week were B1G1 Free.  I googled and went to the Jimmy Dean website.  They had $1 off coupon and if you sent the email to 3 friends, you got $2.50 off.  (Note: I set up a junk email account in Gmail for all these type of email sign-ups).
• Some stores double and triple coupons.  Check your area stores to see if they do.  
• Plan ahead.  Get your coupons together and sale paper and compare.  
• Stock up on things that won't be perishable in the time it would take for your family to consume them. 
• Look for deals like, "If you buy this for $20, you get $10 Extra Care Bucks (at CVS) and those are like cash.  Target also has deals if you buy 2 of these items, you get a gift card.  Done that before.
• Sign up for Groupon.  They have great local deals and you can get up to 50% (and sometimes more) savings on restaurants in your area or other places - salons, theme parks, etc.  Let me know if you want to sign up.  Groupon is doing a deal right now that if I refer you, you get $10 Groupon and I get $10 Groupon bucks.
• Look at all the sale papers - Walgrees, CVS, Publix, Wal-Mart, Kroger, Target.  

So, I went this week to get some stuff.  Of course, produce you just have to get what's on sale or grow your own, but the other stuff, I stocked up on.  Here is what I got this week at CVS and Publix:

Most of this stuff was on sale, but a few items, I just had to buy or had a coupon.  I got a lot of B1G1s.  And, yes, we do consume that much Dt. Mt. Dew.  There is actually another 12 pack in the fridge, so add that to the picture.  All this stuff retails for $124.46 - and some of that was already on sale.  After coupons, ECBs at CVS (just for the Mt. Dew and laundry detergent) I spent $59.64 out of pocket.  That is a 52% savings.  Now, that is not what Extreme Couponing showed, but not too bad, right?  This stuff should last me quite some time - 6 12 packs of Dt. Mt. Dew, 2 Dozen Eggs, 2 bags of Chicken Nuggets, 2 boxes of waffles and much more.  

First Post of 2011

The New Year came and went and we have been settling down from the holidays.  We spent a lazy New Year's Eve at home, celebrated my birthday on the 4th and then have been hanging out since then.  Nothing to major coming up - which I am excited about!

Friday, the kids and I hit the great park we have just a few minutes down the street.  No one was there and it was perfect weather.  A tad chilly, but nothing we couldn't handle to have fun!  I took lunch for us and we had a picnic.  It was really a nice day to hang out with my two babies.  Wish Craig could have been there.

Nap Mat Tutorial and Jack's Hair Cut

Jack needed a haircut.  The barber shop has been daunting since the day I took him in for the first time.  There is screaming, crying, bear hugging, bribing, threatening and face-holding involved.  He hit 3 and seemed to do much better and has, but yesterday, he was not feeling a hair cut.  I left with him and took him home.  I said either I cut your hair or Daddy takes you back to the barber shop.  He chose the first.  It is not glamorous, but will do until next time, then Daddy is taking him!

Pre-Cut

Post-Cut

In sewing news, I made my first nap mat.  I found THIS tutorial online by Jenny Garland and it was pretty easy to follow and turned out pretty good.  I love how it rolls up and you can tote it all with you.  It has the mat, pillow and blanket all in one!  The only changes I would have made would be to use the minky fabric like she suggested (I used fleece) and that made too much fabric.  Jack loved it so much today, he took his nap on it in his new tent.

Speaking of the tent, Kate and Jack have been playing in it a lot.  Kate also loves to wear hats and she grabbed Jack's Braves hat to wear around the house.