What Did I Do To My Hair?

I cut it. Chopped it off. Hacked it.

before the cut

I have been so sick of my hair for a long time now. It was falling out, splitting at the ends and the middle. I wanted it shorter.

immediately after the cut

But now it is super short.  And... Guess who cut it? ... Someone trained? Nope...  At least it wasn't my son. :) And for not being trained, my hubby doesn't do too bad a job. He tried to get what I wanted, but cut too short on one side... Ooops...

after a washing

It is getting a little easier as time has passes (this happened in the late afternoon yesterday), I know that once I figure out some ways to style it I will like it more.

I think I am going to try to train the sideways bangs...

Here are some not-so-great side views. Pics were being taken with my phone because I could not, for the life of me, find the sd card... Yes, I would probably loose my head if it weren't attached. I feel like I loose everything. Like the other day, lost my keys. You know where they were? In plain sight, on top of the dining table.

Hey, I found the SD card!

now, I'm just tired... and don't mind the mess in the background. Toys haven't been earned back yet and I am running out of room to put them.

tangent... check it out, I have an old 1988 National Geographic World Map hanging on the wall! I should really get that framed...

Baby girl would not look at me for several hours. But at least before bed I think she felt bad. She showered me in kisses.

So, honest opinion, what do you think?

Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop: Aloha Burn Blocker {pattern test and review}

*This post contains affiliate links. All views expressed are my own*

I got to sew up some swimsuits for Samara! Yay! The Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop Aloha Burn Blocker. These are super cute, and so much better than a bikini for a baby. Yeah, I don't even really put a bikini on me, let alone put one on my baby girl.

How cute is this little surfer suit?

I have to say that sewing with swimsuit fabric... super hard! It is so slippery!

The directions are great and easy to follow too. She gives some suggestions with sewing the zipper onto the fabric (like not using a zipper foot) makes it so much easier!

I love the fabric! Hurrah for the local discount fabric shop! Swim fabric at Hancock Fabrics was 16.99/yard! The blue at the discount shop was 5.99/yard and the purple was 2.99/yard! Not UPF rated, but that's ok. I set up the umbrella and douse the sunscreen. Or you can head over to Amazon and search for UPF fabric by the yard.

After sewing the short sleeve one, the long sleeve one was much easier! 

Looking at these makes me wish we were close to a beach!

The pattern is being released TODAY (3-6) and is on sale for today only too! 

Click here to visit Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop.

Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop: Lullaby Line: Overalls Testing

*This post contains affiliate links. All views expressed are my own.*

Oh my goodness, I feel so lucky to have been able to test so many items from the Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop Lullaby Line! Last week I shared with you the Lullaby Bodysuit, Shorts and hat. Today I am sharing with you the overalls, which I absolutely adore in this fabric!

I've taken to sewing the kids clothes, as many of you know, because: 1. I am quickly running into the sizes where we don't have much, 2. It is currently cheaper (despite materials and time) to make their clothes, and 3. it gives me something to do and I'm learning new things. New things like a buttonhole...

I think I have enjoyed it as much as I have because it is a quick return on the finished product. It takes me so long to finish a quilt, but a matter of hours to complete an outfit!

For instance, these overalls I paired with the Grand Slam Tee. It took me 20 minutes to make. Granted I had the size pieces already. But I still deconstructed 2 of my old camisoles and I have made this shirt before so I knew what to do (that helps, a lot).

These overalls are awesome! They have 3 different bib options, unisex, and directions for a snap placket for easy diaper changes!

Check it out, this pic is on the yardage page!

You can get the whole Lullaby Layette bundled for $35! That is discounted $10! Head over and Click here to visit Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop.

Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop: Lullaby Line: Bodysuit and Pants Testing

*This post contains affiliate links. All views expressed are my own*

I know I've said this before but, I love testing patterns made by independent designers... The release of the Lullaby Line over at Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop is due sometime today is now available! I am so excited to share these with you!

The bodysuit is a lap neck, which I think for squirmy babies, sometimes is so much easier to get over their heads!

The shorts fit nicely over a cloth diaper and I plan on making several more pairs of shorts and pants.

I re-purposed an old stretch t-shirt for the bodysuit and the shorts. The shirt I used for the shorts I also used for the hat and scratch mitts, which I used more to keep them a little warmer and came off immediately because she would not leave them on!

Go look for the new patterns over at the Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop! Stay tuned, I'll show you the overalls!

The whole Layette Line is available for $35! That is discounted $10! so...Click here to visit Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop.

Halloween 2013

I love dressing up for Halloween, and I especially love doing it as a family. There is nothing greater than the cheesy, group-themed, Halloween costumes. And, I love making them! 

Here are the last 2 years... So fun!

And this year...

I was Tigerlily, Brandon was the Fox Lost Boy (Not anything to do with 'what does the fox say?'), Samara was Tinkerbell and Nikolai was Peter Pan. :)

Here are Samara's wings, green sparkly tulle sandwiched with cereal bag to make it crinkle...

Here was a picture before adding the lacing and wings so you can see the bodice and skirt. Got the idea here but didn't do halter...

Nikolai loved being Peter Pan! He was thrilled when people knew what he was dressed up as!

And what good is being Peter Pan if you can't shoot something?

And Brandon's Tail... Made with yarn and took forever! Tutorial used here...

And my Father-in-Law, pretty cool costume too!

I love it! So fun! Hope y'all had a fantastic Halloween!

DIY: Color-Sorting Mat

I am so excited about this color-sorting mat. Nikolai just has so much fun playing with it! It doesn't matter how he plays with it I think, he is learning! So excited!

I found several nifty ideas for sorting colors online and on pinterest. Some of them were options that needed to be paid for. I figure I have *some* talent with sewing that I may as well give my own version a try! I even attempted embroidery for my first time too! So fun! And now, I want to share this with you in case you want to make your own. :)

Purse - Camera Bag

So, a while back I bought this nifty green purse from Walmart on clearance with the full intent of using it as a camera bag. My camera bag for the Fuji-film point-and-shoot was just too small for the Samsung.

I usually am one of those people that has a purpose for things like that, but rarely follows through. I am trying to follow through more.