I Scream, You Scream...

...and Everyone adores this Ice Cream Bubble Outfit...at least that's the feedback I've gotten from Courtney.

As part of the summer wear I put together for Heidi Sage, I made this Ice Cream Bubble.  Courtney loves one piece outfits because they're easy to throw on, and hard for Heidi Sage to take off...and our sweet girl has found a love for her birthday suit!  :-)

Once again I am using an old, old pattern.  I am sure you can find something simular.  This was something I thought would make a cute summer play outfit.  I used the dress version last summer and thought I would try  the bloomers for this summer.  This is a pretty simple pattern as there are no zippers or buttons.  The outfit only ties at the top.  I'm not sure Courtney could make it, but a fairly novice seamstress should be able to put this together.

As you can see it's not only adorable, but perfect for play!

Summer Sweetness,

The Ride-On Birthday Party

If you're like me with lots of little ones in tow, then there's a good chance you've seen your fair share of birthday parties.  And if you're like me with several of those parties to throw yourself, then you know they can get expensive....FAST!

Last fall Clinton's friends, Charlotte and Schaefer, had their 3rd Birthday and invited us for the celebration.  Their mother threw the cutest party and my kids LOVED it.

The idea is that everyone brings their own ride on toy, as indicated on the invitation; and the kids spend the whole party just riding around.  And do you know what two hours of outdoor busyness equates to....A NAP!  Best.  Party.  EVER!  :-D

First things first, a circle drive works best.  This one was at one of our local country clubs.

Next, is setting up little stations for the kids to stop at...

Here was a bucket of toy tools.  The kids loved stopping to fix their bikes!


Here there were streamers and ribbons for the kids to decorate the rides with.


Another idea for a station is a car wash.  I think there are two ways you could go here.  Simple--grab 10 or so spray bottles at the dollar store, fill them water, and set them out with rags for the kids to wash their rides.  A little more difficult-- build an archway out of PVC with some blue fabric streamers hanging down.  Accompany it with a bubble machine and the kids will feel like they're riding through a car wash!

Any other ideas you have add to our comment section....we'd love to hear them!

There were also a few road signs along the way...

 My kids truly had a blast!  The best part was there's no activity planning, or schedule to keep, or worrying if this kid or that wants to play this game or that.  Everyone brings what they like to ride on....and they ride!

After lots and lots of riding around, we went into the club house for some cupcakes and milk.  Heidi Sage had no problems partaking in this particular activity.

In addition to the above mentioned ideas, all you need are some balloons and bottles of water for your guests (it can get pretty toasty in the really warm months...hydration is good!).

I love this idea because you can make it as simple or overboard as you want, it can be very budget friendly, and it keeps the kids busy....and makes them tired.  If only I had a warm-weather birthday baby...sigh.

I'll be keeping my eye out for other awesome birthday party ideas as we make our way from party to party this year.

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Boys' Outfits

I know it probably seems like Heidi Sage is always decked out in the latest and greatest and the boys get the short end.  Not to worry, they're not completely left out....I'm not saying things are even...but they're not left out.  :-D

We have been cleaning out my mother-in-law's house and I have found several treasures.  In a box of her sewing items I found 2 demin iron on patches with a bullrider. I decided since my husband Clint was a bull rider, she probably had bought those for me when I was pregnant thinking that we might have a boy...but that didn't happen.  We didn't even get a Tom-Boy.  We got two prissy britches....that we dearly love.  Anyway...

Not wanting them to go to waste, I decided to use them for my grandsons, Clinton and Rex.

I ironed each patch on a shirt and used a close zig zag stitch around the outside.  Super simple.  I know you can by these types of patches at your local fabric/crafts stores.  Rex got his sewn on a white onesie.  

Clinton got his sewn onto a red shirt down in the bottom corner...since he refuses to tuck in anything!  Found the demin shorts at Target.

I also decided to try Chelsea's freezer paper idea to make Clinton a shirt.  Clinton loves the Texas Longhorns (which I'm sure has nothing to do with his mother brainwashing him),  so I traced a longhorn onto my freezer paper and cut out my design.  With the shiny side down I ironed it to the shirt and got out my fabric paint.  When using a dark shirt you should also use a dark paint.

I had a few problems but seem to make it work anyway.   Note to self-- If using a paint brush to apply your paint you should never spread the paint from the inside toward your pattern edges because the paint will seep under the edges.  Always paint in!  I found the camo shorts at Target.

Crazy 'bout our boys,

Pretty In Paisley

When Heidi Sage turned 2 a few weeks ago I knew the perfect gift for her was some cute new outfits.  Even at 2, she already loves clothes.  Some may say we've created a monster, but I think she's pretty cute!  This paisley dress was one of the outfits she received in her birthday package from me (Aunt Zsazsie) and Uncle Brian.

I bought the paisley fabric a long time ago and I cut out a dress for me that I never ended up sewing.  I then gave the leftover fabric to my mom and she made Courtney a skirt.  I came across my unfinished dress and decided to make something for Heidi Sage.  I had to use the skirt portion of my unfinished dress to cut out the main part of the dress.  I then found some red contrast fabric and also used the leftover pink contrast fabric used for the dog outfits. 

For the dress I used Butterick 3477.  I shortened the dress and added an additional band at the bottom to display both of my contrast fabrics

Her outfit is completed with her cute hair flower.  It got a little out of hand when I was making it, and it became more of a hat than a bow:)  But after a Royal Wedding Weekend, I'm ready to bring hats back anyway...or should I say "fascinator"?

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Simply Playful

I wanted to make Heidi Sage some dresses to play in for the summer.  For this dress I used McCall's 2213.  The exlarge size is about the same size as a 2.  I found this fabric at City Craft in Dallas and they also had the premade bias trim by the yard in several colors.  Butterick 3846 also has a top very similar to this dress.

Remember back in the fall when I had purchased all those different color leggings?  Well, they have been handy.   It was chilly this particular morning so we added the leggings for some warmth, just as cute with or without the leggings.

Get your summer cute on,

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Egg Grams

The other day I saw an update on my FB page from a blog I like to check out from time to time.  They were featuring THIS blog and their idea of what I like to call Egg Grams.

Seeing as I'm a mother of young children with an endless supply of craft items and a small Target addiction, I had all the supplies I needed...except the stamps.

We had a big bag of Skittles, some small pill ziploc bags, stickers, a few hair clips for some of the girl eggs, and some pink paper for little notes.

We packaged up the skittles, put together a few stickers, folded up our notes, and put our little packages together.

Once the eggs were packed, I taped around the seams with Scotch tape.  I made small address labels to put on the egg out of white sticker labels.  And I adhered a 98 cent stamp and a Forever stamp for shipping.

Clinton dropped them in the big blue mail box at the Post Office.

He thought it was awesome.

Once we got home, he decided he also wanted to send some to his Bebe and Hop (my parents).  He picked out special items for their eggs.  Hop got Skittles and a Matchbox race car out of his highly coveted car collection.  Bebe got Strawberry Shortcake stickers and a Dora Matchbox Jeep.  Clinton's been trying to get rid of that "girl" car ever since it found its way into our house.  :-)  I put extra postage on those...hopefully they'll make it!

Feel free to check out the original post I found to see more ideas of things you could put in your eggs.

Hoppy Mailings,

Beach Towel

Each year Rodney and Courtney take a trip to the beach with his family.  Each time they have a new child that needs his or hers own personal beach towel.

This year Rodney and Courtney decided to take a spring break beach trip so I decided to jump in for the fun filled adventure.  But first... we have a new baby who will need a beach towel.

I found a plain beach towel and used knit applique.  I first cut out my dinosaur pattern.  Then I cut out my sail boat to fit the dinosaur.  I added his name before attaching to the towel.  I did not get one picture of him laying on his towel but did get some cute pictures of him at the beach.

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