10.26.10

Sean's been asking me to learn to read & write. He can almost write his own name (however his letters come out sideways), so I started to look for workbooks. We've also started sounding out words for things and having him guess what letters the word uses to spell it. He's pretty good. He's really a sponge and soaks up all information and remembers everything. I am hoping these workbooks I picked up for him, (Alphabet, Numbers, Shapes, etc..) help him learn to use a pencil to write. I hope to find time this weekend to sit down with him and work in the book.


I did a trial run today for the mini muffins (Oatmeal Chocolate Chip) that I will be making for the Halloween party the boys have on Friday at daycare. I am not sure why I put my name down to make muffins (at 32 weeks pregnant). Why didn't I just put my name down for buying chips? It would have been so much easier. Oh well (though, I'll remember this for the Xmas party in December, as I'll be recovering from a Csection then, as well have a newborn). The test muffins came out great, and they are very yummy. And they are so cute. Too bad they're bite size... makes you want to keep eating them.


Tonight in my sewing class I made this box pouch. (It's currently got my current sock project in it). We used this tutorial, though had to alter it big time, because it's an extremely crappy tutorial. Basically the author of the pattern wrote out a bunch of dimensions and stuff, but then herself, changed up the zipper size, and didn't change the dimensions of the material so if you use the shorter zipper, there is too much material, and if you use the longer zipper, the bag does not come out like a box pouch, more like a long pencil case, which is not what I wanted. Very badly done tutorial, unfortunately. I've tried a few other "free" online tutorials before, but none of them ever came out to the size pouch that I wanted. I guess I will keep searching until I find something I like. I do have to say that I am getting better at using the zipper foot though.

Speaking of sewing, I really have a few things that I have to get done. Where does time go? Really? Slowly starting to feel a bit of anxiety over all the things that I have to do before baby boy's arrival (not including those sewing items). Breathe in... breathe out.

Don't forget that I'm having a contest to win a ton of awesome prizes! If you want to win, just simply leave a comment anywhere on this blog until midnight, Oct 31st, 2010, as I'll be drawing winners on Monday, November 1st, 2010. Good luck!

10.12.10

I love this time of the year. Fall is by far my fave season.

Today in my sewing class I made this awesome pleated pouch (tutorial here).
Great easy pattern. Loved learning pleats.

Since I came with all my fabric cut out & ready to go, I came with something else ready to go.

I received this "tea wallet" a bunch of years ago as a gift.
I searched online high & low for a pattern to make some of these.
I could only find variations like this. (I wanted smaller).

So we made our own pattern, and tried it out. This is how it came out (above). I still have a few "kinks" to work out to make it work, (unless someone knows where I can find the pattern online?) and hope to make a bunch of these to go with a few other things I'm making as some holiday gifts for certain people. Trying to go a little more "handmade" this year.

I started a new project a few nights ago. It's this shawl pattern, Magnificent Mantle. I'm making it as a comfort shawl for my neighbor whom will be going through a double mastectomy in a few weeks. This is a really quick project.

I had another ultrasound today.
Baby boy is doing well.
Even some of his measurements were measuring a few days earlier.
Have no idea what you're looking at above?
At first I had no idea either...

Here it is flipped & zoomed in. It's baby boy's face! Total 'alien' shot though! I can't wait to meet him and see what he looks like. Will he have blonde hair & blue eyes like his brothers? Will he have my button nose like both my boys do too?

There is some good news too! My placenta - miraculously - somehow moved a bit. Was totally not expecting this, as where my placenta was sitting previously. They now have me classified as partial placenta praevia - so things are looking brighter. I will know more tomorrow after I see my doctor what this all entails. I guess all that staying off my feet and obeying my doctor actually has paid off. Though, even if my placenta does move completely off my cervix - I have absolutely no interest in Vbac. I've experienced both a natural (with epidural) birth for Sean, and an emergency Csection with Mackenzie, after about 30+ hours of labor each child (for a combined 65 hours of labor). I have absolutely no interest in having another 30+ hour labor to have baby 3. No thanks.

I have a new 50 point Pampers Gifts To Grow Code: 2BEGINEARNING50 - ENJOY!

10.05.10

I made some stuff tonight in my sewing lesson. I started off with this Tag Ball. It was a free pattern, and it did come from here. The pattern has since been removed (I am glad I saved it when I did to my computer), due to Taggies, Inc. concerns over their patent rights. This project went super quick tonight because I had pre-cut all my fabric. I think I'll start doing that providing I've figured out what I want to make with enough time to get that done before my class. I absolutely love this ball, and can't wait for Baby 3 to enjoy playing with it.

Then I worked on this bottle holder. I have made it in the past, but wanted to make sure with my teacher, I was making it right. I learned about these back in July 2008 when I made one for Mackenzie. Great pattern, and allows me to feed the baby in a bottle (for breast or bottle milk) and have my hands free, whether it be home or out of the house. Great for parents with multiple children. I bought the pattern from here, Wooly Bumblebee Patterns© (Formerly Pixie Patterns - when I bought the pattern she was Pixie Patterns). Great pattern. And she's a Montrealer. Here is one of the 2 that I'd made for Mackenzie - that's him in the image using it! I had made one, lost it (somewhere between Walmart and home) and then made another. The 2nd one I made, also got lost, but thankfully around the time that Mack started holding his own bottles, so I didn't need to make another one. Even though I plan to attempt nursing baby 3, I wanted to have this done before he was born, because even if I do nurse, if I want to go out one evening, I'll have to pump and he'll still get bottle fed.

Great pattern. Really! I recommend it.

Today's Link Love:
- Another Gifts to Grow Point: GIFTSTOGROW4MOM
- These no-sew flowers.
- This really cute Platypus tutorial.
- This make it for baby link site!
- Love this tooth fairy pillow. I think I want to knit my boys one like this though or this one (which I think I like better).
- I love love love love these Fabric Alphabet pieces - tutorial here. I totally want to make a set to help Mackenzie learn his Alphabet. They'll be great for baby 3 as well. I have the PDF pattern securely saved to my computer, and I will hopefully get to make those soon. So cute!

.... so little time, so much to sew, knit, crochet, read, watch, photograph & do! Can there be more hours in the day? Really? Please? With a cherry on top?

Since we really don't have time to go pumpkin picking and the weather hasn't been so great, I picked up 2 really nice sized pumpkins today when picking up groceries for dinner (don't worry, I didn't do any lifting). Anyone have good recipes I can make when the boys have carved their pumpkins? Looking for ideas!

09.28.10 :: 45 months old

Sean is 45 months old today.
I can't believe his 4th birthday is in 3 months.

I love Sean's recently acquired drawing skills.
Not sure when, but it went from lines all over the page to actual drawings.
I love it.
This one reminds me of Stewie.

I brought my sewing instructor this awesome pincushion tonight at my sewing lesson, as it was recently her birthday. One of my awesome friends makes them, and it made the perfect gift.

Tonight we made baby booties in class. It took the full 2 hours to make them. I think they are so adorable. We used this online tutorial. While I think the shoes are the cutest things ever, I will have to wait until I have a baby to put them on to see how they "wear". They elastic part isn't exactly that "elastic-y", so we'll see how they are. Apparently these are meant to be 0-6 month size. I'll let you know when they fit baby boy 3's feet. They'll definitely make an appearance to this blog.

I finished listening to The Friday Night Knitting Club. All 741 minutes of it. While it wasn't my absolute fave book, it kept me entertained enough in the car whenever I wasn't with the kids (because when the kids are in the car, it's kid stuff we listen to, of course). I did end up getting Knit Two, and already have it loaded in the car to listen to next. It's a little shorter than the first book (It's only 646 minutes), but now I'm curious to see what happens to all the characters. Why not. It's something to keep my brain stimulated, as it takes real concentration to listen to an audio book. Can't let your mind wander off, or you'll have to re-start what you were listening to. I think it's very good for the brain to listen to audio books.

Today’s Link Love:
- This image and this one too.
- I won a contest today! A copy of the Holiday 2010 Knit Simple Mag (A magazine I actually get from time to time from the newstand!). From 1000+ entries she picked 10 winners! Wow!
- I love that so many new patterns are being listed on Ravelry daily. Now if only I could find more hours in the day to knit. Wouldn't that be nice.

09.14.10

Today Sean was home with me again. Though, I brought him to the office with me. His cut is almost all healed up, so I'm sending him to daycare tomorrow.

He did help my store manager a lot. He was a very good assistant.
I was told to bring him back anytime. We'll see about that.

Tonight I made a nursing wrap from this Tutorial.
Took me about 2 hours to make it.
I just love the fabric too.

It was my first time working with boning.
Basically the boning was inserted so that I can see the baby nursing.
Genius idea.

There is even terry cloth to wipe up the baby's mouth, which doubles as a pocket for nursing pads while nursing your baby. Great design. Love it.

Today's Link Love:
- This photo.
- This phrase.
- This neat tutorial for sewn coasters.
- This photo.
- This ring.
- This photo too.
- These awesome onesies.
- This onesie too.
- Old Navy Halloween Costumes are awesome. The boys have 2 costumes this year, one for their daycare party, and one for Halloween night. Stay tuned to see what they'll be! Last year to daycare they were a tiger & lion and on Halloween night they were matching Spiders. This year to each, they'll match, so there is no fighting/arguing.

09.07.10

This afternoon we had a playdate with a friend of mine in from Toronto.
She is originally from around the corner from where I live.
She came in to visit her parents for the Jewish New Year.
It was really good catching up with her & finally meeting her daughter.
(Her daughter is 7 weeks younger than Mack).

Tonight for dinner we had:
BRUSCHETTA CHICKEN BAKE

1 can (14-1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 pkg. (6 oz.) STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix for Chicken
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup Water
1-1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 tsp. dried basil leaves
1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese or Marble Cheese

PREHEAT oven to 450°F. Place tomatoes with their liquid in medium bowl. Add stuffing mix, water and garlic; stir just until stuffing mix is moistened. Set aside.

PLACE chicken in 13x9-inch baking dish; sprinkle with the basil and cheese.
Top with the stuffing mixture.

BAKE 30 min. or until chicken is cooked through.

Prep Time: 10 min
Total Time: 40 min
Makes: 6 servings

I made it last almost 5 years ago. Sean wasn’t 100% impressed that there was tomatoes in it – he’s not a fan of tomatoes. Jamie said it was okay (again) and to try something else next time (I think he had the same reaction 5 years ago). Oh well. I tried. I wanted to make something easy tonight and I thought of this recipe. I'll try something else next time. Sometimes it's hard to think about what to make for dinner when you're full and not exactly thinking about your next meal.

Tonight I started a sewing class for 6 sessions. It’s in the teacher’s home. I am not a beginner but want to learn more to build my confidence. Tonight I made this diaper holder to go in my diaper bag. Very easy pattern to follow. I got 7/8th of it done in class and finished it up as soon as I got home.

Since Mack's still in diapers, I can use it until the baby is born. I think it'll be a great accessory to keep in my diaper bag.

Today’s Link Love:
- Skirts like these are why I wish I had a girl. I have to hope that one of my three sons will give me a granddaughter one day so that I can sew up a bunch of these awesome twirly skirts!
- Definitely want to make another baby bottle cozy (that's Mack at 3 months old in the picture) before Baby 3 is born. Not sure what will happen with nursing this time around (I will give it a shot though), and want to make it just in case. The pattern is from here.
- Debating to make this Nursing Wrap Cover next week or one of these pairs of booties. Not sure which to start with unless I find something else I want to make first. Ahhh, gotta love sewing projects. So much to make. So little time.
- I did finish reading Two Years, No Rain last night, review to come shortly. I just started reading Jessica Z. also by the same author and have a blog giveaway coming up for you to win your own copy of that book. Stay tuned!

december seventeen :: 18 months old

Mack is 18 months old today. 18 months. That's just insane. I don't understand how it went by this fast. I feel still like he was just born. Feels like yesterday. Yet, it was 18 months ago. A year and a half. Before you know it, we'll be celebrating his 2nd birthday. He doesn't say much, but he is such a good baby.

It's -19°C today. Make that -29°C is what it actually feels like. It's brutally cold outside. I hate it. It's toe numbing actually. I've been walking around with numb toes all day. It's just that cold.

I ran a lot of errands this morning. I finished most of my Chanukah/Christmas/Birthday shopping in the span of an hour and a half. I wasn't even supposed to go out this morning, I really wanted to stay in and keep an eye on my cleaning lady as I had specific stuff for her to clean this morning in order to prepare for Sean's birthday party this weekend. Normally I don't care if she misses something on the usual routine, but today I had extra stuff on the list since I wanted everything in tip top shape for the party. Though things seemed to be in order when I got home and I am glad that I ran the errands that I did.

I picked up myself a little holiday gift while out though. This adorable TEA box. I really needed one, to clean up my tea shelf. I do indeed have a lot of tea.

It helped clean up my shelf majorly, though not all my tea fit into it though.

This afternoon I had my final sewing class. I ended up starting a new project, which I should be able to finish on my own. My teacher told me though that if I have any questions that I could email her. I do plan to finish the project after the holidays, as this week I have my sister-in-law, her boyfriend and my nephew staying at my house until Christmas Eve. And next week I have Mack home all week as his (old) daycare is closed. (Monday will be his last day, and he's only going in for the morning for his Class Christmas Party). I do have to say after today's class, I DO NOT like working with fleece. I wish the fabric shop where I took my class had fusible fleece in stock, but they didn't so I had to baste it. Sucks because fleece stretches and my material doesn't. So I had to rip up what I'd sewn (basted by machine) and it was really annoying. Wasted a lot of time with this. Though, now it's okay, and I should be okay to finish my project.

Did I enjoy this class? Yes and no. I did because I was the only student (I was VERY lucky - this is the first time this happened and it'll never happen again my teacher said). I still can't sew 100% straight lines, and I am not sure sewing is 100% for me. Though, I have to give it more of a chance because it's new to me. I didn't start out being a fantastic knitter or crocheter when I picked that up, so I guess I have to give it time. I do know how to some-what attach a zipper, though, I could improve on that as well. I definitely won't be taking up sewing for a living, but I can swing making small projects for myself if I want to/need to. My teacher is super nice, though she is almost certain that she won't be teaching next semester (too much going on in her life right now) so I don't know if I would want to take another class and start fresh with a different teacher as everyone has their own styles of teaching, etc. We'll see.

After picking up both kids from daycare, we stoped over at my friend Dara's house for about an hour. I had a Chanukah gift for her and her kids that I wanted to bring by. She asked Sean if he wanted his birthday gift now or at his party, and we both couldn't believe that he said he wanted to wait for his party! Shocking, I know!

This evening I baked cookies (oatmeal) for Sean's Class Christmas party which is tomorrow morning. I had to sign up for something and since the kids weren't huge on my apple cake last time (though the teachers loved it) so I agreed to do cookies this time.

I made them with little santas, since it's for his Christmas party!

Aren't they adorable? I think so!

This evening I spent the entire evening making lootbags for Sean's birthday party. I worked on them while I was watching tv with Jamie. I had 18 of them to do for Sean's friends. I hope they like them. I really had fun putting them together. I just love doing it. So much fun.

:: :: ::

I was nominated for Best Canadian Craft, Cook & Other Activities Blog for 2009! Please vote for me in 1st place here! You have until Saturday, December 19th, 2009 to vote. Thank you in advance! And thank you for reading my blog!

december ten

Today is Jamie's Birthday.
Happy Birthday hun!

I worked at home all morning. I watched The Answer Man (USA working title) today. I like Kat Dennings who was in Nick & Norah's and I like Lauren Graham who was Lorelai in Gilmore Girls. The movie was a little slow and just okay. Not something I'd watch again.

Then headed to sewing class just after lunch. I had a nice time in class today and my sewing teacher really liked the holiday gift that I got her. She's so cute. I'm going to miss her once class is over (one week left). I don't think I will continue on in the next session, I lucked out having a private class and I don't think there is any thing more I want to learn how to do right now. I've mastered the zipper, and know how to sew a straight line right now, so I'm pretty happy. I definitely won't be taking up anything with sewing for a living, but it's fun to know how to do, and know how to work my own machine to actually make a few things.

Today in class I made this box bag. It's freakin' tiny. Totally thought it would be larger, but it's meant for notions, not a sock project in progress. I completely altered the pattern though, and lined the pouch properly, instead of just making the inside the way it is in the pattern. It looks a lot better completely lined. I'm much happier with it that way. It's a cute little bag, and there was a bit too much hand sewing for my liking, but that's okay.

I had a clumsy day in class today though, I broke 2 sewing machine needles, one just after my teacher told me to be careful going over the zipper. Oops. And then not too much longer after that, I busted another one. Not my day! I was also having threading issues today. It just wasn't my day.

Tonight we dropped off the kids at my parents house and we headed to the Habs game. What a nice way to celebrate Jamie's birthday. Too bad we lost 3-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. I honestly think that we should have won this game. We had tied it up but the ref blew his whistle prematurely, and caused the entire Bell Center to boo the referee. It was nasty!! It should have counted as a goal. It was totally not fair. We could have tied up the game, sending us to overtime and possibly winning the game. Ugh! It was nice to come home tonight to no kids though! They're sleeping at my parents house tonight, and I will pick them up tomorrow morning before daycare.

With Chanukah starting tomorrow night, I saw this awesome link on my friend Rhoda's blog. Thank you for sharing. It's totally cute! I hope to find some time to make some with my boys this week! Let me know if you end up making some as well!

december three

This morning again, Mack went to daycare without any issues! No crying anymore. I am starting to like this! I am glad he's starting to finally feel comfortable at school.

This morning I took my car in for a tire change. I had an appointment, and thought that it would be an easy change, but it resulted in me needing new winter tires. (400$ + tax later). Ugh! He told me that because I'm running 32 km each way to work a few times a week, and with the kids in the car, that my tires wouldn't last the entire winter. Because I am the primary kid driver, that was without doubt the reason to sell me new winter tires. No questions asked. Their safety is most important. Especially with the nasty black ice we get in Québec on the roads. I worked on Bella's Mittens while waiting. Even though it wasn't a quick change it took less than 45 minutes.

Today in my sewing class I made this adorable pouch. I love it!

I am still learning, so it has it's imperfections, but it's pretty darn neat! I'm enjoying what I'm learning. I really wanted to make a box pouch in class, but my teacher somehow convinced me to make this one as there was a pattern for it already and we didn't have to start making one. Apparently she's not too fond of "free tutorials" on the 'net. LOL

This pouch I made is way smaller than I'd like, but now at least I understand the construction on how it's made! That's a start!

On my way home from sewing class I browsed some books and magazines at Chapters and then did some groceries next door. I picked up the kids and we made some steaks for dinner with some really good whole wheat side dishes.

This evening we watched Dexter from this past Sunday and tonight's episode of Survivor. I also watched the 2 hour episode of Private Practice and worked on finishing up Bella's Mittens, which are now officially complete. I'll photograph them tomorrow and post that then! I love them. I am so excited to wear them tomorrow!

november twenty-six

I got my order for Silpada (which was from the jewelery party my friend had not too long ago) in the mail today. I love my 2 new pairs of earrings. I love anything silver (and wood - below)

Today I finished my patchwork bag in my sewing class:

Specs:
Pattern: Patchwork Bag "C"
For: Me?
Material: Unknown
Size: 10" high x 13.5" length x 2" wide
Timeline: October 15th, 2009 - November 26, 2009
Modifications: Altered the pattern a little bit in a few spots by making it a few cm smaller.
No big alterations though.
Opinion: It's Cute. Smaller than I was expecting though.

Specs:
Pattern: None
For: Sean
Material: Recycled from a crib bumper
Size: 16" length x 9" high x 1" wide
Timeline: November 26, 2009
Modifications: Invented my own pillow!
Opinion: It's Cute & Sean likes it!

See... he likes it!

Speaking of Habs stuff, I got this awesome Habs stool for the kids.

Mackie chillin' with his daddy before bedtime.

Drive-by blogging:

- Happy Thanksgiving to my American Friends!
- I got a google wave invitation today. I'm in, and I have NO idea what to do with it. Are you in?
- Dritz T-pins are now in stock in the shop.
- Holiday Themed Stitch Markers are also listed in the shop. Here, here & here.
- I bid on ebay and won a new "pocket" camera. The exact same one that I have that is now sticky with apple juice hence why I'm replacing it. I cannot wait to stop feeling lost without my pocket camera. I love my D60 Nikon but it doesn't exactly fit in my pocket.