Thursday, March 18, 2010

Remember These?

I have been meaning to give an update for like, oh, ever on this little system!

It's been well over a year now since I first put this fun, easy and super simple for the kiddo system in place and I just had to give an update that it is STILL going strong! I cannot tell you what a breeze it makes for the morning routine of getting dressed and ready. My child can even get his own clothes together and put them in place for the week, so there is no wondering "what to wear" when getting up and dressed in the wee hours of the morning.

Oh and this? This too makes a HUGE difference in the chaos that could ensue without it.

I wanted to get this going because my son does so much better when he has a "visual" to see what is up next to do without having to ask or be told. However, now that he is getting a little more "big kid" and has those sight words down and, thankfully, the routine down, I am going to make it a bit more simplified for him and maybe add a few different "responsibilities". Nothing major, but keeping it interesting and still maintaining that visual for him to know what/when/done and, of course, age appropriate.



What about you? What systems or things do you have in place to help make school mornings a little less chaotic?!

Monday, March 15, 2010

Cupcake Monday

Okay, not every Monday is a cupcake Monday, but when it's Spring Break and there is time for baking....we made cupcakes! Actually, it was just me (my boy was visiting his Nana), so I made them. The boy would really only be interested in the icing anyway....

So, for this Monday cupcake baking I made THESE!!! Go quick and check them out and get the recipe. SO delish looking aren't they?!

Mine did not come out nearly as pretty, but that's OK. I made work what was on hand. Like, I had no parchment paper, so I used plain old cupcake liners from the grocery store. They were also not the mini size, so I made the regular cupcake size.

These truly were super simple to make. AND so, so yummy! The icing was simple enough to make as well. Although, I have to say my powdered sugar decided to really live up to the powder part of it's name and go all over my kitchen counter. Probably more so because I don't have any fancy mixer and used just my non-fancy (and much loved) pyrex glass bowl. :)

I also didn't realize I forgot the orange zest in the cupcake batter until I had already baked them, but they still tasted delish, so no worries here.

Here are the finished lovelies




If I could I would so pass one out to each one of you that stops in for a visit here at my little blog! We can pretend though, yes?! Yes, so take one and enjoy!

Happy Monday!!!

Thursday, March 4, 2010

The Thread That Wasn't

So, I needed to sew some patches on my boy's TaeKwonDo uniform. I have used invisible thread (yes, there is such a thing) before for similar things in the past and thought it would be super handy to use for this! Problem is, I didn't have any on hand. So, to the fabric store I headed. I needed a few other supplies anyway.

They had the invisible thread that I needed. I bought it and went on my way.

Somehow between getting it home, thinking I put it up and the spool holder with all my other thread, and the several days that passed before I got around to actually sewing them on, it disappeared. I have no clue where it disappeared to, but I could NOT find it ANYWHERE.

So, today, I went back to the store and grabbed some more.

I got home, swear I took it out of the bag and set it down right next to my sewing machine and when I went to use it to thread the machine....it.was.GONE! I am not kidding. I seriously thought I had lost my mind. I searched all over my craft studio...everywhere! It was just gone. Disappeared again. I know it's called invisible thread, but come on! It's not actually invisible. I thought maybe it fell off the sewing table, on the floor, but no. It's was just gone.

So what's a gal to do?! I sat down and cried. Just kidding (no seriously I did...it was awful). Then, I took a break and went and grabbed a piece of my Dove dark chocolate from the pantry. Chocolate always helps, right?!

So, I sat and enjoyed my little chocolate moment. Then, I pulled on my big girl pants and went back in that studio and was bound and determined to NOT be beat by this.

I took a long hard look at my thread and just made it work with what I had. There was black on the outside of the patch and the uniform is white, so black for the top thread and white for the bobbin.

I made it work. I refused to be beaten by disappearing invisible thread darn it!

And typing disappearing invisible thread just made me giggle....

SO there ya have it. Patches are on and I am happy I made it work. However, I am not happy that I bought two spools of thread and have nothing to show for it. Bummer.

What crazy sewing mishaps have you had lately?! Or non-sewing mishaps?

Monday, March 1, 2010

March...wow!


March, how quickly you came! I was enjoying the lull of January and, well, as much as I usually enjoy February...this year? It was full of sickness of both myself and my child.

But March?! March is full of promise. As a matter of fact, March is when my little girl in Russia has a birthday. A birthday I just might get to celebrate with her! Well, not in the traditional sense, since she really doesn't even quite know (or has ever had) a birthday party.

However.....we are expecting to travel pretty dern close to the actual date of her birthday!!! Wouldn't that be super crazy awesome?! Yes, yes it would.

So, March, let's keep with this excitement on your very first day. There is so much promise and the month is full of possibilities. I think I just want to hang today and soak it all in and enjoy it for the time being.

Then? Well, then I have to get busy making a very special little doll to take on our trip. Ah, joyousness.