weekend wishes

wishing i had a tent like this of my own to play in, it makes me think of the movie "the holiday"......

hoping to eat some of this yumminess.....

planning on doing lots of puzzles with my hubby and little girl.........

and if i'm lucky, between games night, bday parties and swimming i'll get in a good nap....

along with some knitting now that i have sorted all my wool - now that was a huge job i don't want to do again for a loooong time. i thought i was going to get lost in the abyss of wooliness that was my storage bins.

what are your weekend wishes? knitting anything fun this week?

all images via my tumblr page

link luv roundup

valentine's day is creeping up around the corner and i just adored this easy paper garland over on "how about orange".

the purl bee's always manages to find the perfect projects to get my knitting needles calling out my name. why not make yourself a pair of these cozy leg warmers for valentine's this year?

i'm in the horrible process of not having much luck of finding new bedding and was super happy to find this tute for making your own basic pillowcase over on "make it and love it".

need to whip up some skirts for the kids fast? pop over to "at second street" to get this sweet tute that she made for her girl's (all different ages).

i couldn't resist posting this headband from "katie did" from last year, it's just so simple and pretty, but then again, isn't all her stuff? swoon.....

pick up your copy of betz white's pattern over at her etsy shop to make your own cuddly, little hedgehogs.

wow! this topiary was made from a somewhat ugly $0.99 one from the goodwill. way to go abby, from "tales and trials", it looks fab!!

ok, insert my drool here. the lovely lady behind the fab blog "truly smitten" has just started her very own foodie blog entitled "tea loves honey". can i just say yummy? this is sure to be on my fave cooking reading list!

i keep staring at this pic today....

love this tute for a very stylish clutch over on "made by lex".

ohhh, the music of sophie madeleine has me wanting to learn how to play a darn ukulele! i still haven't mastered my guitar never mind a ukulele! you can find some videos and songs here.

1) i adore all the lovelies in the etsy shop "blue eyed freckle", especially this new headband, just gorgeous!!!! check out her blog as well, she has some great tutes too!
2) "a hoot and a holler" has a great refashion on turning a sweater into an adorable hat! what a great idea!
3) learn how to make this easy braided headband over on "cakies".

"analog me" has turned her old tshirt into a super stylish skirt just perfect for scooter riding if you ask me!

1) jessica from "happy together" has the sweetest pattern for making these lovely pincushions.
2) sachiko has done it again this week! i am dying to whip this up after the baby comes. you can find her fab tutorial over on "tea rose home".
3) seriously, these adorable and oh, so comfy boots used to be a pair of flats and a sweater!!!! learn how to make your own pair (i'm going to) from her how to over on craftster.

maggie over on "smashed peas and carrots" shows us how to make this fabric rose valentine's wreath just perfect for the season. i think this would be lovely anytime of year simply by changing the ribbon or flower color.

prudent baby (great site) has a diy for making a new stroller liner for your little girl's dolly stroller.

things i'm luving this week:

- the new site of humerous saying "heard on the playground" had me laughing up a storm this week!
- the oh, so dreamy home tour of emily hensen over on "design sponge".
- go check out this funny blog dedicated to the sickening facebook statuses of lovey dovey married couple, just be warned, this is a serious time waster, you may be stuck there for a while! (via a cup of jo)
- the hairdresser in me couldn't resist checking out all the creative hairstyles for our little girls over on "princess hairstyles" this week! i'm going to have to try some of these out on mackenzie.
- make sure you join in on the fun for "celebrate the boy" this month over on "made by rae" and "made". so much fun!!!

what are you luving this week? do you have a tutorial you would like to see up here next week? send me an email!

celebrate the boy!!!

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh, i've got some news to share! this month on the super fabulous blogs "made by rae" and "made" there will be a theme called "celebrate the boy" for all of february. both sites will be filled with goodies galore from tutorials to roundups make sure you don't miss out on a thing! make sure to grab one of the buttons below from either of the sites and post one on your blog to join in on all the fun! (the yellow car is rae's from made by rae and the red car is dana's from made)

my fun news is that the sweet & talented rae of "made by rae" asked me to do a guest post on her blog for "celebrate the boy" and i, of course, accepted! i'm super excited and just thrilled that she even thought to ask me. i am a huge fan of rae's blog and all her wonderful tutorials so it's been an excitement in itself, the jump up and down kind, just to even entertain the idea of getting to post on her site. the post will be up this saturday, february 6th so make sure to ditch the lace and ruffles and pop by "made by rae" and "luvinthemommyhood" for some celebrating of the boy!

etsy monday in the mommyhood

"Sewing fills my days, not to mention the living room, bedroom, and closets." ~ Author Unknown

1) tessa diy kit in cleo (3-4T) - you sew sassy

2) pillowcase dress diy kit with free matching hairbow (4 - 10yrs) - mellon monkeys

3) tessa diy kit in autumn (3-4T) - you sew sassy

4) pilowcase dress diy with free matching hairbow (birth to 3yrs) - mellon monkeys

i found these adorable, diy sewing kits for girl's dresses last week and couldn't resist doing an etsy monday in the mommyhood on them. i think this is a fab idea for sewer's. i can never find good material in the city i live in and order it mostly online anyways. these kits just save me the time and energy hunting all over for the right combos to put together and the pattern comes with to boot!

so next time you're in the mood to make your little angel a new dress why not try a kit instead?

have any of you tried these before? or do you sell them?

weekend wishes

so excited to be doing this at the aquarium this weekend with my hubby and little girl...........

and staring at lots of these............

and loving that we will be enjoying a yummy, yummy meal of all you can eat sushi with dear friends.............

image via

taking lots and lots of pics of our mini getaway..................

image via

hoping that we won't be drowned in the usual vancouver rain..............

image via

and instead get to bask in the sunshine at stanley park............

image via

we're heading off the island to spend a long weekend in vancouver. we lived there for quite some time before moving to victoria and all i can say is we are super duper excited to be going back. i haven't made it over there for almost 2 years and i'm missing my old home. i need to get some serious shopping/friend visiting/robson street wandering/stanley park dreaming/ seawall walking/ aquarium exploring/ west end breakfast eating and more done this weekend. it's been wayyyy too long. i only hope the olympics don't destroy the city we love so much....

what are your plans for the weekend? how doyou feel about the olympics being held in vancouver this year? for or against? sadly i am against.

(ps. due to being away this weekend there will be no post on monday but i will be back on tuesday)

link luv roundup - it's baaaack!

link luv is back! yep, it's taken me a while and lots of pondering. i wasn't sure if i was going to continue to do this post weekly as it takes me tons and tons of time. no really, my reader is so huge it takes me hours to go through it to find all this fun stuff. after pondering it though and getting back to regular blogging i realized i missed it and it was my fave part of the week to put together for all of you.

i see so many things i luv during my blog adventures that i just can't help but share. if you have a tutorial you would like to see on here or info you would like to share please email me at luvinthemommyhood@yahoo.ca i love hearing from you. also top tutorials is coming up again this year and if you would like to be nominated you must have had your tute posted on luvinthemommyhood.

1) nursery from kenziepoo.com - ohhhhh, love it so much, love the site so much too!
2) playpen storage bag from pickles.com.
3) nursery from kenziepoo.com
4) i've been dying to give my hand at these for a while now - it is seriously time to dress up my paper lamp from ikea. check out this tute from craftynest to make yours too!

i'm crying that i have to give this book back to the library. cal patch's "design-it-yourself clothes: patternmaking simplified" is sure to be on my must have sewing book list. too bad mother's day is so far away, i wish i had put this on my xmas list! check it out if you haven't already, it's a great book for anyone looking to make and sew their own clothes.

ohhhhhhh....the new anthropologie pics have me swooning...and swooning...and swooning....the shoes, the dresses, the tops....oh my.

i don't know about you but i'm sure not sick of the lovely ruffles yet. tea rose home has a sweet tute on how to make this pretty ruffle top. (via 30 days)

oh wow, i am a sucker for throw pillows and over on censational girl you can find out how to make some soft, fluffy, textured ones using the most unusual source.....bathmats! great idea!

wishing i looked like this preggers in a bikini....oh you lucky lady you! her blog is fab too! (via a cup of jo)

i've been seriously behind in my blog reading and fell in love with these three tutorials from make it and love it - 1. pillow 2. green scarf 3. beige scarf

i can't wait to get my hands on the new fabric line nicey jane from heather bailey - gorgeous and so fresh!

i thought this little tute from sew4home to spruce up a plain glass vase was perfect to bring some cheer to all the rainy weather we have been having around here.

1) homemade by jill's got a great printable burp cloth template.
2) adorable gooey hearts day shirt makeover from jessica at happy together.
3) transform your t-shirt into a tunic over on craftstylish.
4) learn how to make an easy elastic waistband for a little girl's skirt over at the mother huddle.

are you a fan of the blog the sartorialist? why not get your giggles on by checking out the new blog the catorialist or a similar idea using toddlers/babies over on planet awesome kid.

things i'm luving this week:

- this comforter set from target...oh target...why won't you ship to canada?
- this post on "how to survive the first seven weeks" (of life with a newborn) from domestic reflections.
- the newest issue of vivalamoda is out! go for a looksie...hurry!
- meet me at mikes has a great line up of crochet school lessons going on right now - crocheting is fun and i love seeing it pop up everywhere nowadays.
- want to show off your personal style? are you a blogger? go post some super stylish pics over your style in the newly created flickr group "bloganistas". love this idea, only wish i thought i was stylish enough to add a pic of myself to the group.
- my hubby, it's his bday today....i love you baby. thank you for being you and making everyday better than the last and for giving me our precious and wonderful babies (as well as that piece of ice cream cake to eat while i type this ) - you're the best xoxoxo

etsy monday in the mommyhood

"It took me years and years of trial efforts to work out that there is absolutely no knitting triumph I can achieve that my husband will think is worth being woken up for." ~Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much

1) kit knit fingerless mitts (swirling gauntlets) from fiber optica
2) archways sock knitting kit from fiber wild
3) spring bloom hat kit from lille barn
4) make your own organic unisex neck warmer kit from sweet memories quilts

i've been seeing a lot of kits floating around etsy lately and thought it would be fun to see what kind of knitting kits are out there. i have been knitting up a storm lately so it's been on my mind. whether you are a beginner, someone looking to learn or an experienced knitter there are lots of fun kits to choose from.

so don't be shy all you newbie knitters.....if you don't feel like wandering into a store filled with knitting notions and overwhelming yourself, why not try a kit instead? there are a lot of great videos online to show you steps and techniques as well as some of the kits do include great photos of the how to's. i still go online to refresh my memory of stitches i haven't used in a while. i am constantly looking up cast on techniques and double pointed needle tips. so stop procrastinating and give it a try - you won't regret it! it's time to take that first step - stop talking about learning to knit and actually do it.

in other news please go check out the craft hope for haiti etsy shop filled with fabulous handmade items all for charity in haiti or the craft hope website to learn how you can donate your crafted goods for purchase in the shop all to help raise funds for the doctors without borders.

weekend wishes

to improve my relationship with my scale...wtf...pretty much sums it up for me...

(image via)

hunt for new bedding that i can one day hang to dry on a sunny, fresh day.....

(image via)

enjoy the fact that my little one is almost...almost....completely potty trained....

(image luvinthemommyhood)

get some serious reading done before my stack of books cannot be renewed anymore.....

(image via)

get a chance to put down the knitting needles so i can have a brief interlude with my sewing machine....

(image via)

get my poor swollen feet out for a walk in the rain with my hubby and little girl....

(image via)

and just breathe. it's getting harder to do with the position the baby is in this time round so i plan to spend some time this weekend doing a bit of yoga and focusing on my breath.

what are your weekend wishes?

etsy monday in the mommyhood

"marge, you being a cop makes you the man! which makes me the woman - and i have no interest in that, besides occasionally wearing the underwear, which as we discussed, is strictly a comfort thing". ~ dan castellaneta

1) ruffle panties from isabumz
2) pink ruffle bloomers from mabellabel
3) lucy's potty pants, retro baby glamour w/zebra ruffles from vintage lucy's
4) flower and vine diaper covers from earthgroovz

what girl doesn't love a cute pantie? we've been potty training in our house lately trying to get mack all trained up before the baby comes to cut down on the diapers. she's doing great and we realized part of what is so fun for her is picking out her panties.

i decided to pop over to etsy and see just what kind of neat panties i could find for toddlers and maybe a few ideas to try my hand at making a few for her on my own. i did this post on making your own undies months ago and still haven't had the time to give it a go. have any of you made any for your wee ones or yourself? i think it looks like fun!

a little nudity goes a long way when it comes to sewing....on tv that is

i've been feeling a sad sort of withdrawal now that project runway has ended and canada can't seem to get season 3 going. any word anyone? i have hunted and there is no news on when season 3 will be airing, fill me in if you have heard any gossip :) in the meantime i was more than thrilled to find bravo's new show "launch my line".

there has been no shortage of nudity (and not all good nudity), cat fights, animal themes, nasty partnerships and a very, very, eclectic cast of characters. i'm up to date to episode 4 and have so far enjoyed it. it's definitely not project runway, but if you are looking to fill the void, it will do the trick. plus the hosts, dsquared, are canadian and you know how us canadians love to support each other :P

have you been watching? who's your fave? i'm really liking merle, marilyn and kathy rose. i'm just so glad kathy rose stopped burning that damn sage all the time. that would drive me bonkers! so comment below, let's chat about it! i'm in the mood for some sewing gossip!

baby girl roundup

(image via: charlotte speaks)

yep, you heard right, well sort of right, the ultrasound may have showed a girl. for some reason i don't feel 100% with the gender, i have way too many friends be told their babies were girls and oops - out came a boy! so in the meantime it's a "maybe girl" in our house.

i have been meaning to put up an ultrasound pic of the baby, man this one is a real mover/shaker, but the pics i scanned in just won't seem to cooperate with photoshop - do not ask me why. so sorry folks, no baby pics yet. hopefully we will get a few more, it sounds like we will be having another ultrasound.

in the meantime, i decided to do a roundup of all my fave baby girl tutes out there! there are a lot, but these just happen to be in my personal favorites on my computer. i recently cleaned this out (have any of you had the guts to do this lately?) and man oh man, quite the shocker! this thing was friggin' ginormous! huge! it took me a few hours just to do my sewing folder, not to mention crafts etc. but it's done, i conquered the beast.

i've been slacking on posting big time as we are getting ready for xmas here and i have been sewing again - yippee! i can't post any pics yet as they are all gifts and it would just ruin the surprise. i have also been doing some blog housekeeping and making plans for the new year. i am hoping (fingers crossed) that the site will be up and back to normal in the new year, until then i am taking it easy and enjoying all the yummy scrumptious family time we have coming up. so without further ado here's luvinthemommyhood's baby girl roundup.








kimono by habitual as well as their sundress pattern.

recycled tshirt sienna dress by lil blue boo.

the shirt dress tutorial from made.

sweater dress repurpose tutorial from smashed peas and carrots.

shirred spaghetti strap dress from ikat bag.

baby dress/tunic from made by petchy.

bubble dress from my mama made it.

t-shirt to toddler dress from happy together.

itty bitty baby dress from made by rae.

oliver +s lazy days skirt pattern, joy's hope bandana dress, bloomers from just tutorials, ruffle butt onesie from crap i've made, baby leg warmers from everything your mama made & more, turn those jeans into skinny jeans with freshly picked.







reversible fabric shoe tutorial from maked - crafts exposed.

stardust cloth shoe - by stardust shoes










burb cloths by a chelsea morning

diaper strap tutorial from calico.

basic chenille baby bibs by happy things.

- another great bib tutorial by nested , denim bib from thimbly things and of course my "placemat to bib tutorial"...tee hee.

diaper changing pad and fleece burp cloth from sew take a hike.

easiest baby hat ever by radical cross stitch, a cute one with ear flaps from blueprints or a reversible bonnet from made by petchy.

baby crinkle square tutorial from joy's hope.

soft baby cubes from london mummy.

fitted crib sheet tutorial from michael miller fabrics, breastfeeding cover tutorial from freshly picked, bird mobile from spool sewing, or a ribbon ring teether toy tutorial by patchy apple.






swaddling blankets from the purl bee.

scruffily quilt tutorial from p.s. i quilt

appliqued ribbon blanket from craftblog, three blankets from sew4home, easy baby jersey blanket from the purl bee, or the baby girl quilt from moda bake shop.







saartjes bootees from saartje knits (ravelry link here).

ribbed baby jacket from debbie bliss (ravelry link here).

norwegian sweet baby cap from gro (ravelry link here).

baby surprise jacket by elizabeth zimmerman, helena 2 by alison gree will (ravelry link here), manda-ruth by jane richmond (ravelry link here) or a baby/kids earflap hat from hey julie.

wowsa! that's quite the roundup, but it was also quite the favorites folder!

please feel free to suggest any other tutorials you may know of in the comments section and i just may do a "part two"! and not to leave boys out, i just may do one in the new year for fun! i love little boy stuff and don't think there are enough tutorials out there for cute boy things.

just in case i don't post again until after xmas i am wishing all of you a wonderful and happy holiday season filled with family and loved ones!

weekend wishes

trying to remind myself this as i grow larger by day...............

(image sourse: breathe*)

hoping i get one of these for xmas so i don't have to roll my xmas cookie dough out with a can like last year.....

(image source: sadieolive)

loving that my fave designer from project runway - carol hannah, has a new and fabulous wedding collection! gorgeous...........

wishing i had the time and energy to whip one of these pretty tree skirts up from "censational girl"...............

and trying my best to finish up the project i've been working on using this lovely, lovely wool....................

and hoping i actually manage to find something to wear to the hubby's xmas party on saturday. i think a rehash of an old maternity dress is in the works, but i haven't decided yet.

i will fill you all in at the beginning of the week if we are able to find out the sex of the baby today - keep your fingers crossed!!!! i've been dying to start sewing/knitting for the new baby but have been waiting to find out if it's a boy/girl first. hmmmmm, i sense a project roundup coming your way....maybe.....i luv a good project roundup.

what are your plans this weekend? do you have a fave baby project you recommend?

new lmnop out today!!!!

yippee! i love lmnop! go download the newest copy today. lots of goodies galore just in time for the holidays! their gift guide was filled with must haves as were their selection of adorable swimwear - makes me wish it was summer again already!

animal index by plus d

i loved the animal index at the start to use as placeholders on a bookshelf! so cute and i bet they would be so easy to make at home as well.

so take a quick break from the kids and go take a stroll through lmnop and let me know what you loved about the issue. what's your fave gift item shown?

etsy monday in the mommyhood

"i love to put on lotion. sometimes I'll watch TV and go into a lotion trance for an hour. i try to find brands that don't taste bad in case anyone wants to taste me." ~ angelina jolie

1. moisturizing mint & vanilla snow day body cream by dress green
2. women's extra moisturizing face lotion by red leaf
3. multifruit body polish scrub by marmalade hills
4. gingerbread body butter creme by wicked soaps

just as i was starting to get over my pregger barfing blues on came a bout of a cough/flu and no, i don't think it was h1n1 that lead me to no posts for a week. i'm doing my best to get things back on track here on the site, but it seems like life just keeps throwing something my way. hopefully by the time xmas is over this site will be up at 100% capacity again. thanks for all of you sticking by us during this time - luv you guys!

so while i was laying in bed moaning and feeling sorry for myself i started wishing i had a round of new and yummy organic body lotions just right for the xmas holiday season. i thought it would be a fun "etsy monday in the mommyhood" to go take a look at what they have to offer for body lotions and potions - and wow! i gotta say, these all look good enough to eat and are healthy enough that you could, but only if you really wanted to.....at least slather yourself in em' to make your spouse think you are....tee hee - delicious!

what's your fave scent for a body lotion? do you recommend a store on etsy for lotion?

weekend wishes

wishing you a weekend filled with.....

via maggie lochtenberg, haeshu

summer dreams,

via kara o'keefe

cozy, warm mittens,

via under glass, kristine may

fall strolls covered in bright, cheerful leaves

via kid curry

pinecones galore,

via atomic turqoise, boak

and cute shoes perfect for those new tights you got.

don't you just love fall? as much as i am missing summer sunshine the bright fresh leaves are keeping me smiling. we plan on doing some xmas shopping this weekend, cuddling with cozy strolls, lots of laughts and hopefully some knitting on my part. i have a new project almost done that i am dying to show all of you! i figured since i have been sadly neglecting my sewing machine i might as well pick up my good ol' friends the knitting needles. it's been fun and i realized how much i have been missing knitting.


what have you been making lately? any knitting going on?

etsy monday in the mommyhood

"you will alwasy be your child's favorite toy" ~ by vicki lansky

1) wanda the little weirdo by susarto

2) two peas in a pod #31 by green pea studio

3) custom handmade fox toy by bird and little bird

4) mini dachshun designer orla keily fabric by alice apple

i've had softies on the mind with the new baby on the way. i just can't seem to resist those little faces and soft smiles - these little creatures on etsy just stole my heart! i'm excited to make some softies for the new wee one and for the toddler running around the house as well, but in the meantime, these would do quite nicely!

handmade holidays is here!

ohhhhh, how i love this time of year! sew mama sew has their yummy handmade holidays going for the whole month of november. each day they show a different category of scrumptious holiday gift ideas! the best part is they aren't just suitable for xmas. i refer to their gift guides all year for project ideas, inspiration and just to plain drool.

this year i was friggin over the moon to receive an email asking me to be part of it - needless to say i said yes!!! you'll be able to check out our very own tute from our newbie sewing series for making yoga capris from shirt sleeves on saturday, november 7th on sew, mama, sew! i couldn't resist tooting my own horn, i'm just so super excited about being part of such a wonderfully talented group of people!!! thanks sew, mama, sew!!!

so pop on over to their site, get drooling and saving your fave gift ideas! the holidays are on their way and you know you hear that sewing machine calling your name.......

what are you making this holiday?

etsy monday in the mommyhood

"feeling fat last nine months but the joy of becoming a mom lasts forever." ~ nikki dalton

1. autumn muse by lemuse
2. ladylike wool wrap coat by aftonriver
3. dalby jean jumper by makool
4. batwing shirt by duende
5. bubble sundress or tunic by anuchka

oh the joys of maternity shopping. if you are like me this can be a pleasant and horrible experience at the same time. finding things to fit my tummy, butt and giant boobs can be trying to say the least.

so with baby #2 on the way i decided that this time instead of hitting the mainstream stores i would take a peek around etsy to see what i could find in the way of maternity. i was pleasantly surprised by the wide array of clothing from regular clothes that can fit maternity to your normal size fitting maternity clothes.

so go on, be fearless - take a look around, a lot of the items can be made to custom fit your sizing which was a pleasant surprise to little (or should i say not so little anymore) ol' me.

what's your current maternity must have outfit?

etsy monday in the mommyhood

"and all your future lies beneath your hat" ~ john oldham

1) light yellow & black hand knit beanie hat - fashion idea
2) softspoken lux bubble beret - softspoken
3) 12-24mth daisy flapper beanie - pdx beanies
4) the brant cable beret - yarnovermovement
5) teal blue, green chunky hat - ileaiye
6) hand-knitted beanie hat - fashion idea
7) the katrina crocheted beanie - sparkleberry crafts
8) any color but cage earflap hat - irish hooks and yarn

i know i keep talking about summer ending and all that chilly weather sure to be heading our way so i thought why not continue from sweaters and move onto hats this week! i am a hat girl. i looooove a good hat. i knit em, crochet em, sew em, and most importantly wear em! being a mom, i rarely have time to do my hair (i'm sure you guys can relate) so i rely heavily on cute hats to doll me up a bit when i am and out and about during the day. i am all over the slouchy hats again this season. they are super cozy, easy to make, easy to wear and i couldn't resist adding a few to the mix with the above.

what's your fave style of hat to wear? are you a hat wearer?

(NUDGR8BCW963)

link luv roundup

don't you wish fall looked and felt like this moment everyday?

awww, i'm gushing for alexis...so bear with me. i'm so proud of her for finally starting her very own etsy shop! we featured alexis's blog "my mama made it" a while ago and have been following her everyday since! i can't wait to see what she comes up with next and still can't figure out how she does it all with 3 little ones! congrats alexis!!!

i'm luving these prints from dilka bear - so dreamy and so perfect for my girl's room.

oh my gosh! i am so in love with the coffee table that chez larsson has up this week! her hubby & son made it for her! could you imagine! insert my drool here please....wow! i'll take one! she easily has one of the most organized homes i have ever seen - needless to say, i am an avid reader of her blog for her how to's and great tips for keeping things clutter free.

vanessa over on v&co shows how to refashion a skirt into a dress for the little girl in your life.

learn how to make one cute little manicure kit cover! what a great gift this would make! {via craftgossip}

how cute are this skirt and dress combo from one of our top tutorials winners "cakies"?

take a peek over at the celebration shoppe to make up some of these owl softies for that special little someone in your life! these look like fun! {via craftgossip}

check out the great school lunchbag roundup that whip up's got going on! some great ideas there as well as this post with some helpful links for machine quilting how to's!

learn how to make a cute fabric poppy boutonniere over on grosgrain.

tired of sewing or knitting your grocery totes? why not try crocheting one instead? purl bee has a great little pattern to whip up a few of these lovelies.

here's some promos/contests going on this week that i couldn't miss out on telling you all about:

is your child a budding artist? interested in taking the family on a free cruise? go check out the virtual book of dreams contest held by carnival cruise lines to celebrate their newest ship "carnival dream". kids of ages 7-12 get to draw out their dream to get a chance to win lots of fun prizes for them and the family! click here for more info on rules/regulations and to enter! i love the creativity involved in this giveaway!

i wish i had heard about the site www.babysafetravel.com a long time ago - i think it's fabulous! what a great idea! i could have used this site many a time when we have travelled with mackenzie. bonus is they also have an online boutique with some sweet gear to make travelling with your wee ones a bit easier. enter the promo code 'summertravel' for 10% off baby travel products in the baby boutique.

i've written about chalkboard tees before so i figured i couldn't get away without mentioning the special promo they have going on right now just in time for xmas. get your pre-orders in before december 1st 2009 (they get shipped out 12/12/09) and you receive 20% off! just use the promo code chalkyhood - how sweet is that?!

things i'm luving this week:

-satch & sol is having 15% off everything in their online store this week for back to school till sunday, september 13th. use the promo code "school15". i LOVE this store!
- learn how to make a pediment from a picture frame over on the shabby chic cottage.
- i enjoyed the interview over on gathering sprigs with leslie shewring of "a creative mint".
- i'll take one of everything over on bliss's annual boots roundup - *warning* shoeaholics beware, this is a dangerous, dangerous post! i had to hide my credit cards!
- craftypod's got a new e-book out called "creating a blog audience". you may remember her first one making the rounds entitled "making a great blog: a guide for creative people".
- you a fan of the blog darling dexter? make sure to check out her newly launched etsy shop "whitney deal".
- check out the catalogue from tine k home and be prepared to drool and want to print out everything for your inspiration board - lovely, lovely things. {via decor8}
- great roundup of tea cosies over on "meet me at mike's".
- digging the site poladroid after reading about it over on the lil blue boo. it's fun and easy to use! so dig up some pics and polaroid the heck outta them!
- katie from the blog katie did is back with the cutest sprinkler suit i have ever seen.
- we've all been pondering making our own undies so why not our bras too? here's a tute over on instructables if you wanna give it a shot!
- i'm all over this sweater refashion for the fall/winter season! find out how to refashion one of your own over on smashed peas and carrots! too cute!
- i'm going to making up some of these adorable diaper straps from calico to help keep all those stray diapers from flying around in your bag - great idea!
what are you luving from this post? what projects are you linking this week?