Day 2: Hola, Amigos!

Yes, she's still into Dora the Explorer and all of the fun that follows. Actually, we're having a Dora themed party for her. Ariel's favorite episode is "Dora saves the Snow Princess," but I couldn't tell you why. Maybe because its a double length episode or that is has a princess in it. Your guess is as good as mine. For Christmas, we bought her a book of Dora stories (that closely follow the TV episodes) and you'll never guess which story is requested 9 times out of 10?

Dora is just good, clean fun and how can one not appreciate that?

P.S I made the dress she is wearing in the picture.

Cooking Up Halloween Fun!

Ariel became an Iron Chef for Halloween this year. Since I still have creative control, I wanted a costume that was off the beaten path of vampires, pirates, and princesses (although, the princess thing is sure to rear up one of these years).

Our participation in the festivities included a mall trick-or-treat event and a trick-or-treat dinner and door knocking party. On Saturday, we went to the outdoor mall by our house. We wanted Ariel to take a nap, but since she feels she’s such a big girl, she skipped it. So we wasted a good part of the treat collecting and got there 20 minutes before it was over. Now it sounds sad, and it was, but that girl hauled away a good quarter bucket full of loot. Impressive, to say the least. Eric and I also dressed up. It was nice to see we weren’t the only parents to do so.


Pumpkin Carving with Daddy



On Halloween night, we went to the house of Eric’s running friend. She and her husband were so gracious to feed us all before trick-or-treating. There were 6 kids in the group that went out, with Ariel being the youngest. Someone at every house commented on her costume. Yeah, score one for Mom! We’ve been teaching Ariel about patience and waiting your turn, so she was the last one of the group to get candy, but she managed to say “trick or treat” and “’thank you,” every time. Then she would run back to us shouting, “Candy, candy, candy!” Her little beach bucket was so full by the end of the night, that candy was falling out of it, but Ariel wouldn’t let us hold any of it so she could get more. Yes, we are in the “Mine, Mine phase” of the terrible twos. Fun.



We all had a great time this year. I’m wondering if I’ll get another year to choose her costume or if she’ll be old enough to dictate what she wants.

À la cuisine!





The Boo Crew



Obi Wan Kenobi Vs. Pj Pookie




Pirate Girl, Arrrgh!

Costume on a Shoe String: Pirate Style

Ariel was invited to a Pirate birthday party. The family asked the guests to dress in costume. Now Eric and I are not pirate people, so that meant we needed to find a costume. Luck would have it that it was too early in the season for Halloween costumes to be out. So we were now engaged in an exercise of creativity and ingenuity.

What we started with: a plain white t-shirt, frilly socks, black shorts, red material, large lace, red tulle, purple satin, and unrelated costume pattern.

What we bought: sheer dance skirt, black shoes, sequin trim, stiff white felt, and headband.

<-----I used this picture for inspiration.

How we brought our Pirate Girl to life:

1) Trimmed the bottom off the t-shirt. It was a 3T and way too long. Released the gathers in the sleeves. Sewed the large lace onto the neckline and end of loose sleeves.

2) Use Simplicity pattern #, for the vest on the monkey costume. Pinned, cut, and sewed vest and hand sewed sequin trim on the vest. (Yes, this was tedious and time consuming. And yes I stabbed myself…repeatedly).

3) Folded 4 inch wide tulle in half, and ran it through the sewing machine to make it gather and scrunch up. Glued to head band. Using a picture of skull and crossbones on the Internet, traced the image onto stiffened felt and cut two out. One for the headband, one for the belt.

4) Cut a 4 inch wide piece of purple satin 18 inches long. Folded it in half and sewed a seam. Turned it inside out and closed off the opening for the belt.

5) Sail Away:

The shirt was tucked into black shorts and the sheer skirt went over them both. The purple sash was tied around Ariel’s waist and the skull patch was safety pinned on. On went the vest. Ariel’s hair was kept down and curly. She loves headbands, so getting her to wear it was easy. Frilly socks and black shoes and our pirate girl was ready to sail the open seas!

*apparently Ariel was not in a picture taking mood, so this is all we have.

Welcome to My Corner of the Institution

I've come to realize that Easter is my favorite holiday. It's a time when winter is finally starting to shake us loose, spring is around in the corner and everything is coming back to life.

My sanity, however, tends toward the route of a 'day late and a dollar short.' Eric's mother was hosting Easter this year and was expecting eighteen people. Since I enjoy baking (and showing off), I volunteered to make dessert. I had originally planned for the ribbon jello and the angel lush cake, but with so many people, I had to step up my game.

So, I spent two nights burning up in my kitchen creating the following six desserts: sugar cookies with strawberry icing, cherry icebox cookies, apple buttermilk pie, angel lush cake, run raisin pie, and ribbon jello (in pretty Easter colors).

Everything was delicious and I have the extra poundage to prove it.

As if all this cooking wasn't enough, I decided that I wanted a new blouse for the occasion. Since leisure shopping time is limited, I made my own blouse. I see the guys in white coats walking up the driveway now. I was surprised how well it turned out. My sewing skills are intermediate at best. I did do some power shopping and found a nice skirt to go with it.

It is two weeks post Easter and I still don't feel rested. Perhaps, it's time for a vacation.

Sisters

Valentine's Weekend

So we celebrated Valentine's Weekend by sharing our time with family and friends (honestly, we see each other enough as it is :0) I went to my co-worker's baby shower on Saturday and Eric hosted a Coffee Party on Sunday.

Saturday: I couldn't just do the old stand by and buy my coworker, Mina, a gift card or some item off her registry. So, I cheated and bought a quilt kit and made her baby boy a quilt. It's full of texture with flannel, cotton, and chenille squares and circles. I added a touch of red yarn for anchoring and aesthetic purposes. I hope that the baby will like it. Mina's mom made her baby shower cake (pictured below) and man, was it amazing. Marble cake and rich buttercream frosting. I'm drooling just thinking about it. It was a lovely party and Mina and her husband were totally showered in love.

Sunday: Now, I'm sure you've heard of wine tasting parties, where everyone brings a bottle of wine and everyone gets a sip (or two out) from it. Then they score each one a variety of parameters and then the group discusses things (if you even make it to this step). So based off this premise, the coffee party was born. He invited some of his coworkers, his parents and a few friends. Even though I can have some caffeine, I chose instead to stick to the sweet bubbly euphoria known as soda. The party lasted about 2.5 hours and I hope and pray everyone was able to sleep that night. Good clean fun, in any case.

Our godson, Phoenix

However, you spent your Valentine's Day/Weekend, we hope that you spent it with someone you care about.

Costumes of Halloween Past

Halloween is quickly approaching and Eric and I find that we turn into little kids when it comes to picking out a costume (at least we haven't resorted back to trick-or-treating). For the past few years, I have been using my newly discovered sewing talents to make Halloween costumes for Eric, Pazu and myself. Here is a quick review of what we've been over the years.

2006- Robin Hood and Maid Marion

I made both these costumes from scratch using fabric, a pattern and sewing machine.

After looking at these pictures, I got the notion in my head that the Maid Marion dress made me look quite overweight. So, I went to the thrift store and bought a velvet dress for like $7. I added a satin cowl and drapes and instantly became a Greek goddess. (I know, I cheated. I got two costumes this year).

2007- A Journey through History

Pazu-Purple Wizard (medieval period)

Eric as Young George Washington-1757 (he was often mistaken for Mozart)

Nicole as a Geisha-Japan 1922

So we were invited to a Star Trek party this year and went as holograms from the Holideck. I made this Star Trek cupcakes which were a big hit!

What we will be for 2008?

Mini Vacation

Since I took some time away from the Kids (my novel), I decided to delve into another project I've been meaning to do for awhile. When Eric and I first bought the house, I told him I would make a quilt for our bed. Our California King sized bed. So, it's three years later and I'm finally getting around to it.

I found this particular project in a quilting book. It's all based on triangles, 4 in X 4 in X 4 in. It said you could get this thing done in a weekend. What liars! It took me all week, working roughly 6 hours a day on it. I'm so ready to get back to writing now. I ran into some problems while I was attaching the quilted piece to the bed sheet. I bought a plain bed sheet from a thrift store for this project and didn't realized that the thing was all stretched out. So my triangles didn't line up right with the sheet. So a little nip and tuck, and from the top you can't tell anything is wrong. I'm not that worried, this quilt is solely for Eric's and my enjoyment. Quilting is not my forte and most of my quilt projects are far from perfect. It'll pass and that's ok with me.

During this sewing excursion, I read 1 book (326 pgs) and burned through 2 audio books, about 12.5 hrs each. Three books and a king sized quilt in a week. Man I rock!

Stepping out in Spring

As a belated Easter gift, I sewed a cute spring outfit for our god-daughter, Ysabella. I made it from McCall's pattern 2213. Frogs in pink and green. She looked so cute in it, but of course, I left the camera at home. Here are some stills. Enjoy!

The big one!

Saturday was our goddaughter's first birthday. Ysabella now has six teeth and motoring like the Energizer Bunny. Eric was unable to attend, as he was in South Carolina (his grandmother passed away on Sunday, Jan. 6). being a little on the side of insane, I decided to make Ysabella's birthday present.

She recieved a two-foot-tall stuffed bear made of red cuddle fleece. She was hugging that bear for the remainder of the party. She might take it to college, if it lasts that long.