Laboring Away on Labor Day

When we moved in two months ago, I worked frantically to get the house at least acceptably livable. And then I took about a month off. I just could not get past the decorator’s block or whatever it was that plagued me.

One of the big jobs on my list was getting Drew’s room finished. The renters (who did have permission to paint) had painted it from its original soft yellow to a dark gray-blue. And the paint job around the trim and ceiling was atrocious, to say the least.

Anyway, I woke up yesterday morning and actually felt motivated to tackle the paint job awaiting me in his room. Nice to have Andy home the entire time, being a holiday.

Before:



After:



I'll post another picture once I get the curtains and wall deco hung.

(Whenever the motivation bug bites again.)

Ta-dah!

Okay. I forgot to take pictures of the main parts of the house (I will later) but I do have a few from my room. When we lived there before it was a deep red. The renters changed it to this pale sage-y color. I can't decide if I want to keep it or change it.




The thing is, Madeline's room is a lime green (with pink accents) and I had planned on also painting the kitchen a shade of green (Sherwin Williams' "Haven.")

Can you have three different green rooms in just one small house? I don't know!

To the Curb

I spent the evening getting ready for The Summer Purge 2008.


THAT is (mostly) 10 years' worth of faded and outdated clothes. Brite, I'm so sorry you had to help me pack all that.

Whew. I feel lighter already.

Shameless [friend] promotion

I was first introduced to baby slings (specifically the pouch-style) when Madeline was about 15 months old. I was newly pregnant with Adelaide but hadn't told anyone, save Dolly, yet.

The first two I purchased were Hotslings. Loved 'em. I could keep Madeline on my hip, have my coffee in one hand, and the other hand clamped down tightly on Drew's wrist.

And if you know anything about a 2 1/2-year-old Drew, you know he liked to run.

Away from me.

At full speed.

Which is slightly problematic when one is standing behind a loaded cart in Wal-mart.

So anyway, I truly appreciated the hands-free benefit the sling provided.

When Adelaide was born, my love for them multiplied exponentially. Madeline followed in her brother's loving-to-run footsteps and usually would bolt in the opposite direction he had. So the hands-free thing was even more important with three small (two of which outrageously energetic) kids.

A newborn Adelaide would fall asleep immediately upon being placed in a sling. She was just so warm and cozy in there.

It's also how I currently shop; Drew and Madeline buckled in the double stroller, Adelaide in a sling on my hip. It's the only way I'll venture into Target alone with my kids.

A visual, if you will:


I like the pouch style best because it's custom fit to the mom's body; no adjusting, no extra fabric, no awkward rings, clips, or weird tying maneuvers. It's simple and straightforward, easy to pop on and is comfortable for everyone.  There are three ways to wear them that grow with your baby from newborn to toddler. Plus they are super cute!

And I'm always on the lookout for a cute accessory.

So, back when I received my first one in the mail, after looking at it closely, I just knew I could make them.  And since then I've made myself...well, a few.

Which is why I was so excited when WonderGirl decided to open up her shop and even asked me to help with the extra sewing.  This little post is simply a shout-out; you really should pop on over and see her Etsy store and drool over all the cuteness.

She has a wide selection of darling fabrics and also an option for customizing using a fabric of your own choice (that no one else has!).  I also should mention that hers are more cost-effective than Hotslings, for those of you frugal at heart.

So to go check it out, click here!  And for pete's sake, tell us what you think!  (Depending on the number of comments, I may even be able to weasel a giveaway out of her.  Not that I've asked her yet, but, you know, minor details.)

Variation of a Theme

I decided to try something a little different, lest all of my girls' clothes this summer are pillowcase dresses. I varied it into a shirt/pant set and the bloomers turned out waaaay better than I thought they would.


Doing a jig:


The back:


The front/side:


Making off with the chips:


And climbing all over the furniture:


Also, I finished one for Adelaide tonight:


Sure hope it fits.

Spring Bargain Shopping Network

I found this skirt on the clearance rack at Target for exactly $4.62.


The only problem? It's supposed to be knee-length. On me, however, it hit about 2 inches below my knee. Which is just not flattering, no matter who you are.

But for $4.62, it was worth the home-alteration risk. I figured I could always go back and buy another one if I ruined it. I debated with myself about taking the inches from the top or from the bottom, but finally decided on taking it from the top. The box pleat with those ribbon trims would have been infinitely harder to move than taking off the top band and cutting the zipper. But it all worked out and see? I have a wearable skirt for spring that cost me $4.62.

This one was $4.98. And it was also an unflattering two inches too long.


For this one I only had to cut the bottom off and hem it; much more straightforward.

Definitely worth the $4.98, in my book.

Chocolate (fabric, that is)

I decided that if I'm going to help WonderGirl with BohoBaby, I'd better polish up on my sling-sewing skillz. So a couple of weeks ago when I was in the fabric store buying ribbon and ric-rac for the pillowcase dresses, I did a little turn down the cotton stretch aisle and lo and behold, it was 30% off.

Which, you know, by law you must buy it when that happens. And, I've been wishing for a looooooong time that I had a chocolate brown one.

So, for practice, I made a few more for myself. (Since I didn't have enough.)

(And I think I can hear Brite and Nicky scoffing, all the way from Chattanooga.)

Adelaide wasn't so sure about posing for any sling pictures...



...but we did manage to eek a small smile out of her in the end.

Third and last

Okay, I promise I'll stop posting pictures of sewing projects now.

Pillowcase Dresses

When I found out I was having a girl (who turned out to be Madeline), I hightailed it to the fabric store and loaded up on cute fabrics for all the dresses I planned to make. Ambitious, indeed I was.

I don't think I ever actually made anything for her, but that's really neither here nor there. The point is, I've had some fabric sitting and collecting dust these past two and a half years that I finally decided to make use of.

After a quick phone consultation with my friend, Nicky, I made a few pillowcase dresses for the girls. Not that they'll get to wear them anytime soon with weather this freezing.

But spring fever? I have it.

So with no further ado, I present the pillowcase dresses I've made so far:


(made yesterday)


(made today)


Here's what it looks like on:


(I cropped her face lest you be subjected to the post-nap weeping and gnashing of teeth.)

I wish I could have taken the picture with her standing but I didn't want to press my luck. They sort of fall to an "A" line and are fairly long.

BohoBaby, oh yes

Welp, it looks like I'm going to be assisting WonderGirl with BohoBaby Slings. We figure, between the two of us, we know a LOT of babies.

Stay tuned...

Kids' Rooms

However, do not be deceived. There are other parts of the house (i.e. my bedroom) that are still a huge and confused mess.

Drew's room:





Girls' room:



(I still haven't finished that last curtain in the girls' room, but at least the rod is up.)




Also, since we are the first renters, I got to choose the paint but I didn't in fact paint the rooms myself. Lest you think I've been slaving away with a paintbrush.

Hitting the Moving Wall

Moving is frustrating, there's no way around it. Well unless you're the queen and all the little worker ants move everything for you and all you have to do is show up, eat, and look pretty.

Anyway, I'm now to the point where I feel like I'm walking around all day asking myself, "now what am I going to do with this?" And after the, say, forty-seventh time, this house is starting to get on my nerves.

Have I mentioned I like things neat and tidy?

Andy sent me out for a much-needed break tonight and he put the kids to bed. And since the kids are asleep, I'd better get back to work since this kind of quiet time is, well, precious.

Weeding Out

I spent the morning weeding out my kids' drawers. A huge job. But a job despretely needing to be done. I mean, there were still socks in Drew's drawer sized 18 months. It was frustrating anytime he wanted to wear his 'sneakers' when I would grab a 18 mo. sock by mistake. I mean, it might have covered his big toe.

Clearly it was time. Also, we might start the move next weekend so, it was sort of now or never. But after several hours of work the drawers are all updated and ready for fall. The attic, on the other hand, is still a huge messy pit. That's really okay though because I can't see it. And the door will remain tightly shut. (Until we move, that is.)

Southern Style, Part II

Look at this bee-utiful dress my friend D is making for her daughter:





Now there's real talent, people!