A VISA gift card giveaway

Today I am excited to be part of a great little group of girls hosting a $50 Visa Gift Card Giveaway. The best part is that you can pretty much use the gift card anywhere.  So go ahead and check out the blogs below.  They all involve sewing and fashion.  The giveaway will end on Monday, September 2nd, and the winner will be announced on Tuesday the 3rd.  Good luck!

        While Camden Sleeps

Running in Heels

Remended

Tiny Dazzles

                                                   a Rafflecopter giveaway


                                                   

Shared kids bedrooms

We have lived in our condo for over 10 months now and both my kids' rooms (here and here) are still begging me for attention. It took me ages to find the perfect fabric, design etc to start working on them but shortly after,  my husband got accepted into a masters program at The U and so I had to stop most of my projects. We are moving closer to school at the end of September.
I have been thinking of having the kids share a room. Diana is always first to work up and when Eli wakes up, she is the first to run into his room. The laughs and giggles I hear thereafter are priceless; melts my heart every time.I think they will love sharing a room.

This time I am doing my research early so when we find a place, I will have somewhere to start. Here are a few inspirational bedrooms I found:

All of these bedrooms are adorable

EM Design Interiors

Cinsarah

Olive Juice Designs

Bumper crop

Laura U, Inc

Insidesign

Amy Lau Design

I love, love, love the relationship that my kids have. They remind me of the relationships I have with my siblings; a sister and a brother. Growing up, my mom would never let me go play with my friends without taking my siblings along. She would always say, ‘family comes first.’ In the end, we spent most of the time just the 3 of us.  My siblings are a huge part of my life and am grateful that we are still so close despite the fact that they are both a continent away from me.  So, I do like that Diana has friends but I love it when she chooses to play with Eli instead of her friends.

Anyway, here's to happy planning and better organization

Camping quiet book page

I am really excited to share with you what I have been doing. A very awesome friend of mine, Shirine  invited me to join her and some friends to make a quiet book. We each had to contribute 2 different pages to the book. It took me forever to make mine because I was a little intimidated; it's something I have never done before.

I followed this pattern from Imagine Our Life. She did it so well and her instructions are really easy to follow; I tweaked mine a little.  She has other fun quiet book ideas too.

[caption id="attachment_565" align="aligncenter" width="600"] My daughter is in love with this page. She kept on playing with it even before I was done.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_570" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Night time! The moon is up and the camper is snuggled happily in his sleeping bag.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_568" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The fire is probably my favorite part. Diana roasting her marshmallow.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_569" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Love the chocolate[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_567" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Breakfast is served! Hot cocoa with some marshmallows and some s'mores.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_572" align="aligncenter" width="640"] This little guy can sit up or lay down. I have a pipe cleaner in there.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_571" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Love the sleeping bag too[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_566" align="aligncenter" width="524"] What is a night of camping without a visit from the bear?[/caption]

 

It's a skirt and a dress

I love the color mint. When I saw this fabric it sure was love at first sight and I bought it right away.

Skirt: me, Red blossom necklace: Tiny Dazzles,  Turquoise necklace: Tiny Dazzles

I used my old maxi skirt I made here for a pattern.  I folded my fabric in half (hotdog style). My measurements are 43" long (from waist to ankle) with a 1.5 inch allowance for the bottom hem and where the waist attaches to the band. Waist 32" around (please don't tell)!

Then I got this above. I turned the 2 pieces of fabric inside out and sewed a straight stitch along the sides

To make the waist band, I had another piece of fabric measuring 22" high and 30" wide (notice that the waist band is at least 2" smaller in width, this will make it a little snug at the waist so it doesn't fall off)

I folded the waist band fabric hamburger style then hotdog style.  Here is what the hotdog/hamburger styles look like. Sew along the one open side

Turn it it inside out. When you are done, the band should look like above.

Then you will have 2 pieces like above

Now, attach the waist band to the skirt using pins (both pieces should be turned inside out, meaning the right sides should be facing).  Then hem the bottom of your skirt and you are done:)

Blossom necklace from Tiny Dazzles

Bubble necklace: Tiny Dazzles

Store update & Mint Chevron

I have been a store owner of Tiny Dazzles for 7 days now and it has been awesome. When I got my first order, I got so excited, maybe too excited. I let out a scream and jumped around the house a little. If you walked in on me, you would think I won a million dollars. After a few minutes of celebrating, I went back to the computer and thought, 'oh, what do I do next?' I had to make a few phone calls, hahaha! Everything turned out well; I think I am a pro now:)

I had put in so much work (in the midst of terrible migraines and doctor's visits) and I am just so grateful for the support my husband, kids, family and friends gave me. Every time I would post about the store on social media, seeing a 'facebook like' or a kind comment made my day. I am extremely grateful for all the wonderful people in my life... I am especially grateful to Natalie of What the Teacher Wants, she is a super awesome person. When I think of the humble beginnings of my store, I will always think of her.

Ok, here is what I have been upto:)

Can you guess what I am making? I am excited. Come back tomorrow and see what I have been upto. I think you will love it as much as I have.

Blossom and a Giveaway

Merrick, an awesome fashion blogger from Merricks Art wearing our blossom necklace in mint. Doesn't she look dazzling? I am loving the floral on floral, such a refreshing summer outfit.

Merrick is also hosting a Tiny Dazzles giveaway, go check it out and enter here for a chance to win a necklace of your choice from my store.

The 2 Love Birds

We spent the 4th of July weekend with our friends the Fairbanks and our kids, Diana and Ian were inseparable. They held hands everywhere we went. In the end, it felt like it was their date and we were just chaperones:) It was really cute to watch them though. They were the 'main event' and they got several 'oohs, and aahs, and they are so cute.' We were down town Salt Lake City, saw Temple Square and City creek mall.

And yes, there was a kiss at the end of this date. It was hilarious, love these two:)

We had a lot of fun. We love the Fairbanks. I served my mission on Temple Square with Camila. She is one of the best people I know. She really has been like a sister to me; with my family many many miles away having these guys here makes me less home sick.. I can pick up the phone and call her anytime, she is the kind of friend every girl should have..