Busy Hands

I made the girls Elsa and Anna dresses for dress up and for Halloween. I seriously cannot be more proud of how these turned out! I ALMOST made a tutorial for the two dresses, but I like to make things up as I go and It was time consuming enough, that by the end of these projects I was thinking I just want to enjoy what I made uniquely for my girls.

Finding the right materials was honestly the most annoying part, and then the right colors. After that I literally took whatever shirts the girls fit into right now and used that as a "base pattern" for all my ideas. That's how I could make the costumes fit them so perfectly.

Its funny to talk with people, and for everyone to ask, how I do this stuff without a pattern? My answer is always that my brain simply cannot handle a pattern. It is SO confusing to me and all the times I have used one I usually find a quicker easier way to do it, without sitting there the whole first day carefully cutting out my pieces (holy crap that takes forever to me). I kind of want to start something where I make the most simple patterns ever that have practically no explaining on how to put the project together. I think that would be super cool. I do mess up occasionally the first time around, because I rush or I do not think through all my ideas. Which is good because then I log away in brain what doesn't and what does look good/right/good enough.

I really appreciate all the nice things people have said to me about my sewing either on here or through other social networks. It makes me want to open up a shop one day (If I can ever find out what I like to sew all the time!)

Anyways here are their dresses and the comparisons to the actual dresses on Frozen:

Here's the thing...

Andrew and I are starting a healthier life process. We have decided to be better about portioning our meals and all that jazz. We really could never stick to dieting, so we are just slightly adjusting things. Last year we decided we were spending way too much money on take out so we have been cooking in 4-5 days a week  (no fast food ever unless we are on a trip or its a special occasion) only eating out on Friday's and Saturday's.  I also stopped drinking any soda on the weekdays and have been doing that for 4 months now, Andrew is just starting on this one. Although this has saved us a ton of money, and I mean shload, we have decided it is now time to start cutting down on portions during our at home eating.

We went to the store and bought fresh broccoli, summer squash, lettuce, grapes, apples, potatoes and whole bunch of fresh stuff. I cut the broccoli and summer squash up, blanched and portioned them into freezer bags. We also buy fresh meat, pound it all out, portion it and freeze it so we are not over eating. Another HUGE weakness we have is bread.... So I am only making enough for 4 people or just 1 roll each. Also, NO BAKING DURING THE WEEK DAYS.

     || We  are  making  sure  we  exercise  at  least  3  days  a  week ||

These are all things we can do and are not over bearing to accomplish. Little changes here and there really do make a difference in our pockets and how we feel as a family. But lets be honest Friday's and Saturday's are still fair game to whatever Like I said, we don't diet. 

twenty fourteen

2014 Thus far has been a pretty good year other than a few hiccups along the way. We have had quite a few changes around here in this family (mostly growing up changes with the kiddies) . We have been doing our best to be better parents and better people in general. On a side note ALL my "projects" pictures disappeared on here and I have been mad about it for a few months now. And also the blog is under construction. Anna needs to help me make it all cool again. 

Jocey: She is seriously the smartest child. So inquisitive, grammatically correct, and can hold a conversation with you for hours if you'd let her. She absolutely LOVES Vivian and is always trying to get huggies and kissies from her. Jocey helps around the house 24/7. Even when she was sick about a month ago, she was throwing up at the toilet and accidentally got some on the floor on her way in and she started crying, asked for a rag so she could clean it up. We had to explain to her several times that it was OK and mommy and daddy would clean it up for her. She is just really sweet and is sooooo ready to start pre-school in the fall.

Vivian: OH my goodness.... This baby is quite the little handful. She is very curious/mischief as I have said many times before. She is absolutely convinced that if she hits, bites or does anything off color that she can make it all better immediately by giving you a kiss. It's a super awesome way to say sorry but, Viv you're old enough to get some time out for these things, all though your offer is pretty tempting. She is extremely mobile and active. She could stay outside all day if she had anything to do with it. She loves Jocey, but is usually the one starting the drama. Vivian is also 18 months and is in nursery now which is awesome! Speaking of 18 months Vivi stopped nursing 2 weeks before she turned 18 months and she is doing great. she still only weighs 18 pounds, but she is a petite little gal. 

Valentines Day with daddy's flowers

They love rocking each other on this chair

Selfies, as always from Jocey. Photo credit: Jocelynn Whittle (while taking a million more with moms phone)

Discovery Park weekends with a little Purple Turtle snack on the way home

Watching cartoons with daddy in the morning

No more nursing's first meal!

Easter

Earlier before the basket hunt on Easter. No big deal.

Happy boo boo at Ginny's house on the swing

Sorry most my posts about these two happen on Instagram these days. We hardly get on Facebook anymore!

4 years old!

Jocelynn Autumn is 4 years old!

Favorite Movie: Cinderella

Favorite Food: Bananas

Best Friend: Sarah

 Jocelynn is VERY talkative and is ahead for talking, understanding and sentence formations. She has an incredible imagination and motherly touch. She is a very hands on child and loves most activities. She is helpful and sweet. We are so happy she is ours! We love you Jocey babe! Happy Birthday!

Family Pictures 2013

This year we had our friend Anna do our pictures and they turned out great!

late 1 year old post!

Vivian Celeste turned 1 on October 15th!

She can walk, say mama, dada, nod yes, say yes, climb, dance, sing, give kisses, hugs, plays with her sissy and many more things!

She really hates being thrown up in the air, being left alone, eating normal food, not having the attention on her etc.

We love her and cannot believe she is 1! Especially since she is still in 6-9 month clothing and weighs 17 pounds!

Tree Skirt

This year via the request of Andrew, I am making stockings and our first tree skirt * we have been married 4 years and this is our first tree skirt, don't judge!*

Here is the site I used for the cut out of the main skirt.

I used a pre-made piping and added super wide red ribbon for the back ties.

Materials:

1.3 yards red chevron fabric

36 inches (at least, this amount only makes a knot)wide red ribbon

5.5 feet pre-packaged Scarlet piping

Scissors

Fray check (for cut ends of ribbon)

Plastic cup for center tree opening measurement

Chalk pencil for half circle

What I did:

1. Made all the cuts as site instructs above

2. Surged all edges of fabric (optional)

3. Pinned and sewed piping along all edges

4. Spaced and sewed on ribbon and fray checked the cut ends