Tribute to my little angels

I really had no intentions on publishing this post... but after my sister posted about it on her blog... I figure I'd share it with all of you.

October 15th is infant loss and remembrance day. 

I personally have 5 angels I care about, and two "rainbow babies". 

For those who don't know, a rainbow baby is a child born after the loss of another child. Thus the rainbow after the storm. 

I have written about my angels in the past. About my miscarriages. About my feelings. And I've linked the article below. 

http://lllbyame.blogspot.com/2011/05/lesson-of-day-never-forget-your-angels.html

Every day I think about them. In fact, writing this, I've already cried a little. The fact that maybe I wouldn't have my daughter and son right now if I had them. What they would be like? Would I have gotten them either way with my two beautiful babies I have now? 

There will always be the "What ifs" in life. It's your choice to live through them or make them better. After living in the dark for so long after I lost the first set. I chose to wake up and yes, it is easy to fall back into when you've had multiple miscarriages like I have, but you HAVE to get back on your feet. Because your rainbow may hidden by the mountain. 


Please take a moment, and light a candle with me. 

Trying to start the Journey... AGAIN

I swear I tell myself EVERYDAY that "todays the day". One of these days... it really will be. In the last week I have exercised a total of 5 hours.
Today I even took a 2 1/2 hour walk. Granted in was from the in laws to the park for a pumpkin festival, but it's not a close walk, haha.

I took some "before" and will take after pictures. I'm hoping the before pictures will be enough inspiration to get my butt in gear. I even took *gasp* NAKED pictures to help this process. (who else avoids full length mirrors haha)

Anyway, I welcome you to join me in my half a person weight loss journey!

And 75 pounds to go!

Creating a circle skirt - Tutorial

I created a skirt for a little girls first birthday party, and while I was pleased with it... it wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be.
I figured the easiest type of skirt would be a bubble skirt, and I had this AWESOME fabric that looked and felt JUST like Elmo!
We still don't know what this fabric is called... so we'll call it "cuddle, knit, minky, fur, costume fabric" It's very soft and stretchy and light. While this is a great type of fabric to work with for skirts... this particular fabric was NOT. 

The little girl I was creating this for had an 18 inch waist and wanted a 9 in length. So I went "old school". I took a pencil, on a string and did the circumference. In hindsight, I would FOLD the fabric in fourths first. I had a teacher in 8th grade who used to say MAKE MATH SIMPLE! So I will also try to explain that part as such. In my steps, I will include an EASIER way to do it AND the way I did it if there is both.

Materials:
1 yard of fabric
Elastic for waist. I used actual waist band elastic. There are two ways to do the elastic and I'll include both. I found the way I did mine easier. BUT that's your call.
Ruler
Pencil
Fabric Marker
Iron
Sewing Machine
String (Optional)
Tracing paper/regular paper (Optional)

Steps: 

 1. Get your measurements. (Ie 18in waist, 9in length)

2. There is a "formula" for the skirt measurements., but in all simplicity to get the circumference, you need to Waist (18in),  + 2 (so 20) divided by 6.28.
so (18+2) / 6.28 = 3.18 inches

3. What would have been easier: On your tracing paper, put the ruler at the corner, Measure (3.18 inches) all the way around the corner. We are creating this in fourths, so it will be easier.
    What I did. I took a pencil and the fabric marker and added the string to it 3.18 in apart. I then drew on the actual fabric in a full circle. Sounds easy right? You do not get a straight circle unless you have a really steady hand.

4. Now you need the length. You want to take the desired length and add 2 inches for the hem. (top and bottom) If you do the elastic the opposite way I did, you do not need as much as a hem on the top. So measure accordingly.
   What would have been easier: Measure 11 inches (9+2) with your ruler on the tracing paper just like you did the waist measurement. Mark 11 in from the edge of the waist markings.
   What I did: From the center of the skirt, I measured 11 in out on the fabric and drew all the way around. You can now cut out your fabric on your lines. If you do this, skip step 5.

5. What would have been easier: Fold your fabric into fourths. Cut out your pattern, which looks like 1/4 of a donut. On the fold of your fabric, put the pattern down and trace onto the fabric. Cut out the fabric. You will have 1/4 of a donut, unfold once and you have a semi circle and unfold all the way and you will have a full circle. (Duh, I know)

6. At the bottom of the skirt measure 1 inch on the bottom all the way around and pin. Take your iron and iron the hem down. It will make it easier to sew. Sew all the way around. Iron the seam.

7. Do the same thing in step 6 to the top, except leave an opening for the elastic to go in. Take a safety pin and attach to the elastic which is waist plus an inch. (so 19inch in my case) and thread through the opening, pulling out the other side. If your model is available, pin the other side on the safety pin, try on your model and adjust the waist. If it fits, tack (sew together) and sew the hole closed. Iron the seam.
ALTERNATIVE. Instead of sewing the elastic inside the hole, you can get thick colorful elastic and just add to the inside top of the skirt. So the elastic will be touching the skin. 

8. Hold the skirt up and feel accomplished, you've just made a circle skirt!

Also use as a poncho!

   

Pumpkin Picking!!

The last couple of days we've spent as a family. Yesterday included pumpkin picking! It really is so nice to spend time as a family.
We went to one of our local farms that we've taken V to for the last few years. Usually we feed the animals, pick the pumpkins and have some icecream. This year we didn't do the ice cream because there were 3 school field trips.
We picked our pumpkins, V picked a $4 pumpkin, Hubs and I picked a $5 pumpkin and we picked a couple gourds and a small pumpkin for painting. We're planning on carving Ariel and Sophia the First.

For pumpkin seeds I usually do garlic and lemon.

What are your fall activities?

16 Days of Halloween Crafts!

Each day, starting today, I'm going to do a halloween craft with my almost 5 year old daughter!

Today's activity we're going to do make a Pumpkin with paper links as a countdown to Halloween.

Each day I will post the pictures in the new page "halloween"

Other activities we'll be doing:

1. Jack-O-Lanterns on construction paper.
2. Tissue Paper Ghosts
3. Hooty Owl
4. Scary Pom Pom Bats
5. Milk Jug Ghosts
6. Paper Plate Ghosts
7. Egg Carton Bats
8. Mickeys Pumpkin Patch
9. Paper Plate Jack-o-Lantern
10. Monster Cup
11. Felt Pumpkins...great for traveling!
12. Foot Ghosts
13. Face off
14. Pumpkin and bat wreath
15 Black cat mask


If you know some other activities, please comment what you'll be doing! We're off on our way to make our pumpkin link!

Creating a Routine

Every child needs a solid routine. Something that gives them a structured schedule of what to expect. When children have this, their behavior tends to run smoother. The key is to not overwhelm them, because that will end in the opposite effect.

In our house we have a routine for V and a partial routine for R. R is only 9 months old, so there are days his schedule varies based on a number of factors, like teething. Which is currently taking place (we've sprouted tooth number 8)

Our Routine looks like this:

7am wake up. My daughter has a clock in her room to tell time (it's NOT digital. V knows her numbers, but she needs to be able to tell time both ways.) So she is not allowed to come into my room until the clock has the little hand on 7 and big hand on 12.
7am-8am: Most of the time, this time is spent in my bedroom. She'll play in front of the mirror, on my phone, or just lay in bed with me. It all depends on if R is awake yet. He usually wakes at 8.
8/830.: Breakfast. Breakfast includes cereal/toast and fruit. Sometimes eggs.
From then until R's first nap at 10, we do free play.

10am or whenever Rs first nap is (no later than 11) We watch a movie and eat snack.

12: Lunch
After lunch we go outside for a bit and then come in when R is ready for his second nap.
R naps and I do a few learning activities with V.
When he wakes up, there's more free play.
3/330: Snack time. V eats her snack faster than R so after snack V and I do a creative activity. (Keep posted for our halloween activities.
Finally, more free play.
6/630pm is dinner time.
730 is bed.


So my question, what is your routine like?

Lawsuit on the NuvaRing?

I just found out about the NuvaRing lawsuit today which actually had to make me smile.

Before I got pregnant with the twins I had seen a Dr. at my practice. I did NOT care for her and requested never to see her again (this was the first and LAST time seeing her)
I had made this visit in October because I was about to stop nursing my daughter who was turning two in November. I was on what is known as the "mini pill" and was told to go onto regular birth control when I was stopping.
During my visit with this particular doctor I had expressed my feelings on the pill and how it was hard to remember to take it daily and was interested in alternate options. She kept pushing the NuvaRing on me! Told me over 10 times that I should take the NuvaRing (all of which I had expressed why I was refusing...seriously, the answer hadn't changed the whole time.) I asked about Mirena, the patch and other contraceptives but she would ONLY allow the NuvaRing. Coming out of that visit, I felt like she was being commissioned for it.
Whilst leaving, I made another appointment with my original doctor and did not take the NuvaRing, but the regular pill.

Fast Forward to today and I am now seeing advertisements about a lawsuit against the NuvaRing and it really makes me wonder how it would have effected me had I fallen into the pressure of this doctor. At that time I had felt cornered, and like I HAD to use this NuvaRing, but I stood my ground. Now, I am more than happy I did. In my past I have already been tested for DVT and blood clots. To see this?! Makes me wonder if I had taken it...would it have been worse for me?

Today is one of those days I will hug my babies just a little tighter.

Selling Childrens Items

I decided back in February that I was going to make cloth diapers for my son and after a lot of research, tons of information and some tax money, I went for it!!

Well that "little idea" has cost me more money that I could have ever imagined because NOW I know what co-ops are, I'm apart of MANY groups on Facebook that sell supplies or fabric, and I absolutely love to sew for my kids!

Upon my searches I figured "wow! I can make this into a business!" and so I did!

or so I thought...

Instead! I found a group on Facebook called "CD Compliance" a group DEDICATED to helping those of us "naive think we can do whatever we want people", and REALLY getting them (us) to think and even a bit...ok a LOT discouraged) After reading about the permanent or temporary tags, the woven or satin, the care and fabric, certificates required for testing...testing on my OWN... I thought "Holy crap! Is this what I want to do!?"

Of course the answer was yes.

So I got my tags, I got my labels. And away I went!
www.facebook.com/mojofamily


For those who don't know, CPSIA passed a law that helps protect children under 12 from hazards. This means that all products must be tracked to ensure the safety and to be recalled if needed. (Like the drop-side cribs). This is NOT a nuisance! This is to protect our children!

Below I added my first creations:

My very first attempt

Minnie Mouse dress I made for my daughter

First "real" diaper

Ribbon Blanket for my son

Of course my husband loves comics....

This was also made for my son... but my niece basically stole it ;) (shes 2 weeks younger)

Some of my favorite diapers

Also a favorite, sorry for the sideways shot!