sponsor love - made for 3

every girl loves accessories. no matter what the age, you show us some pretty headbands and brooches and we're sold. i know that when i look for headbands for me and my girls i look for unique pieces that are handmade. the handmade accessory shop made for 3 does just that. it's a fun way to express your individual style without going over the top. they are also a great statement piece to any outfit. a little pop of color will always brighten up your day.


i used to be hairdresser (a story for another time) and can never get enough accessories. i'm used to always wearing black. i gravitate towards black, it's the stylist in me. so to bring color and fun into my outfits when i was working i would accessorize. a brooch, a hair clip or a headband would add just that little something to my wardrobe. now that i'm a stay at home mom i do have color in my wardrobe. i have to consciously add it but it doesn't stop me from accessorizing. i still have a soft spot for them and the fun part is now i can put them on my girls too!


lucky for me there are shops like "made for 3" that i can turn to. the lovely claire, is one of those stories that just warms my heart. a long time reader of this blog, a sweetheart and someone i'm proud to call a friend recently decided to make one of her dreams a reality and opened her online shop made for 3. i love seeing people, especially people i care about reach for their dreams. this busy momma of 3 litlle girls - 8,6 & 3, who's also currently preggers with #4, is passionate about her accessories and makes each and every single piece with love. she also has a thing for fabulous buttons...and you all know my obsession with buttons.


so if your wardrobe needs some spicing up for the new year, you know a little girl looking for some flowers for her hair or you just plain LOVE accessories like me then go visit "made for 3" (i know..it rhymed..couldn't help myself..haha). so go say hi to claire and while you're there enjoy 10% off - just use the code DEC01. happy accessorizing!

you can find made for 3 here:

shop: www.madefor3.bigcartel.com
follow on twitter: http://twitter.com/claire_madefor3
follow on facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Madefor3/156053054422098
read claire's blog: http://madefor3.wordpress.com

what's your fave way to add some punch to your wardrobe? do you have a thing for headbands like me?

weekend wishes

to eat a candycane without either my daughter or hubby stealing it...

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for santa to bring this crafting goodness to my house...

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to remember this when times get stressful...

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to get my hands on one of these...

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to find a copy of this xmas album to play for mackenzie...

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to share a meal with a great friend this weekend...

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to dive right into the christmas spirit...

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to start sewing with more greys...so pretty...

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to finish making all of our xmas decorations...

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and to get you smiling from the cuteness.

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what a week! i crashed and burned last night. i thought i would get more sleep as the week went on but instead i got less and last night got the best of me. so weekend wishes is here, it's just a tad late...you all don't mind do ya? i hope the rest of you who were downing the coffee with me due to lack of sleep got more than i did this week. here's to a sleep filled weekend.

the hubs is writing his exam today....thank god! i'm so excited for this time to be over and to have him home again and for us to enjoy the holidays. ok, and for me to have more time to craft it up..haha. it's been tricky getting the time in with no help at home. how's your xmas crafting going? you as behind schedule as me?

we're planning on checking out the fabulous xmas trees on display at the empress hotel here in victoria, going for dinner at a friends house, me sewing & knitting my brains out, catching up on dexter & a few movies, a girl's only lunch for me and of course, naps :) oh, naps. i miss naps. i need a nap. i sadly underestimated naps when i could still have them.

what are your weekend plans? your wishes? you doing some festively fun things with the family? pull up a chair, i've got some hot chocolate for you...let's chat :)

Sensory Store Canada Clothing Giveaway Winner!

the winner of the sensory store canada clothing giveaway is....

TL said...85

I am a mommyhood subscriber
Terri at foggitt dot org

congrats terri! lori will be in touch with you soon about your prize! thank you for all your entries folks! have a great weekend!

Nana's Nuts and Bolts Recipe

We have family tradition in our household. Every year at Christmas time the women in my family get busy making nuts & bolts. Mmmmmm, yum! Delicious. It's funny how this snack mix reminds me of xmas. the smell, the memories and the taste all bring back my childhood. Fighting with my dad and siblings over who got what kind of cereal (we all have our faves) and picking them all out of the dish because you can never get enough of the tasty goodness!

Last xmas I posted in my facebook status that I was making these and got a lot of requests for the recipe. I figured, heck, why not share the recipe as a special Christmas treat for you all. A little taste of my "mommyhood" at xmas time. So grab the kiddos - they love to help stir, tell the hubs no snacking while you're baking and get making! Add or take away a cereal or be adventurous and try some spices. Nuts & bolts are true to their name, mix it up, match em' up, play around and build something truly delicious! It smells as good as it tastes!

Nana's Nuts & Bolts Recpe

INGREDIENTS:
- 1 box of Shreddies (675g)            - 1 botle of Worstershire Sauce (284ml)      - 1 tbsp Seasoning Salt
- 1 box of Cheerios (300g)             - 2 Cups of Mazola or Canola Oil
- 1 box of Crispix (350g)                -1 tbsp Garlic Salt
- 1 bag of Pretzel Sticks (450g)      - Peanuts (600g/1.5lbs)

- 4 large plastic freezer bags to store nuts & bolts in freezer (yum!)
-Aluminum pans for mixing and baking (I use two roasting pans that equal the width of my oven.
*The ingredients above filled the two roasting pan size that I used.

RECIPE:
1. Mix all the cereals and peanuts into your pans.  Use your hands to stir the ingredients together.
2. Add the pretzel sticks breaking them into small pieces as you add them to the mixture. (You don’t have
to do this, but it can make stirring easier.)
3. Combine your garlic salt and seasoning salt into one shaker.  Equally shake the salts onto your pans.
Use your hands to stir.
4. Pour your oil in equal amounts over the pans.  Mix with a spoon.
5. Pour the Worstershire Sauce in equal amounts over your pans as well.  Mix with a spoon.
6. Bake for 2 hours at 200 degrees F.  (Bake only 2 pans at a time if you are making a large batch or
using more pans.)
7. Stir ingredients every 15 minutes while baking. Yes, I know it’s a lot, but it’s very, very important to stir
well and often.
8. Leave the pans to cool down before storing in plastic freezer bags or plastic containers in the freezer
until needed.
That’s it!  All that’s left is to eat and share with family & friends! Yum! Thanks Nana!
   
 I've also included the recipe as a handy pdf download for easy printing. Who the heck wants to hand write this puppy out?  Click HERE or on the pic below to get your own copy! Yummmy!!!

So grab your pans....


gather your cereals...


and your pretzels and peanuts...

 
and get cooking! Happy baking!  Now go sew/knit/crochet while you enjoy the yummy smells in between the stirring :) A giant thank you to the oh, so lovely Dana for having me on her super fab blog and to join in all this holiday yumminess!  Merry everything ladies - from my home to yours!

What's your favorite snack to make during the holidays? Do you have a family snack recipe that's a holiday tradition? Share the yumminess!

Sew Comfy Wristwarmers Tutorial

Who says wristwarmers or fingerless gloves need to be knit? I've been knitting a few pairs of wristwarmers/fingerless gloves (whatever you like to call them) for xmas pressies and the other day I got to thinking that it would be way faster to just sew a pair up. So this sleep deprived mama said to heck with all the other items on my to do list it's time for a tutorial!


If you follow me on facebook or read yesterday's post you know I fought and I mean fought for the light to take the pics of these sewn wristwarmers. I had to wait until 2:30 or so again and then mad woman dashed around the house sweating and sewing and racing around to get at least a few decent shots for you folks. So bear with me if the pics are not my best shots ever, I hope they at least get the message across. Please feel free to ask me any questions in the comments or to email questions my way. I'm more than happy to clarify any oopsies I may have made in my lack of sleep and over caffeinated haze :)


Sew Comfy Wristwarmers Tutorial:

Materials:

- Fabric approximately 22"L x 12"W for wristwarmers outer lining. I used flannel. Make sure your fabric is pre-washed and shrunk before starting project, it sucks to have to do this, but it's very important.
- Fabric for wristwarmer inner lining approximately 22"L x 12"W. I used an old t-shirt.
- Any supplies you would like to use to snazz up or personalize your wristwarmers.
-needle and thread
-scissors

*All seam allowances 1/2"

**Copyright 2010 www.luvinthemommyhood.com
All rights reserved. For personal use only. Please do not sell items made from this tutorial, it's bad karma :)

1. Download and print the pattern template for the wristwarmer. Adjust width or length as necessary for your arm/hand size.

Bottom Wrist Warmers

Top Wrist Warmers


If you choose not to print the pattern piece out here's another way for you to all whip one up as well:

1. Using a knit wristwarmer as a guide for shape, trace the outline on a piece of paper and then flip the wristwarmer to the right and continue tracing. Doing this makes an open version (unseamed) of your knit wristwarmer. This will be your starting guide. From this shape add at least 2 inches all around to make up for the lack of stretch in your outer lining fabric. Mine was about 9 inches wide at the bottom and tapered in smaller at the top. See the picture above & blelow as an example. Where the fabric curves in is approximately where your wrist will go. Remember the top part should be a smaller width than the bottom as your hand (width of your 4 fingers - not your thumb base) is not as big as your forearm.


2. Pin template to your fabric placing pattern piece fold along the fabric fold edge. Cut out 2 of these using your outer fabric. Cut out 2 more of these with your lining fabric. I used flannel for my outer (oooohhh comfy) and a soft t-shirt for the lining.


3. Pin the outers to the inners with right sides facing each other. Imagine the nice print of your fabric kissing the nice soft side of your cotton t-shirt. You should have two wristwarmers pinned and ready to go visit your machine :)

4. Sew all four sides using a zig zag stitch making sure to leave at least a 2" opening to pull your wristwarmer through later on. I used a zig zag stitch due to the fact that I used a stretch fabric and also because I wanted a little give in the glove area for my thumb to move around without ripping the seam open. Be patient with the sewing and be sure to pin well. The stretch moves a bit but if you hold it just right and don't pull or stretch the t-shirt material while sewing they match up quite nicely together.


5. Time to pretty it up. Trim your edges as close as you can get to your zig zag stitch without cutting it. Make sure to cut your corners as well so your edges are nice and pointy when turned right side out. Turn the wristwarmer right side out by pulling it through the 2" opening you left unsewn. Using a sharp object push out your corners and iron the wristwarmer nice and flat, then pin your opening shut. Using an invisible stitch hand sew the opening closed (ignore the fact that mine isn't in the pics below i was racing the light and was desperate to get my pics done).


6. Fold the wristwarmer in half with your outer fabric facing each other. Slip your arm inside and mark with a pic or fabric marker where you would like the opening for your thumb. You want to mark the base of your first finger sort of where the webbing of your thumb starts if you stick your thumb out sideways and also make a mark at the starting point of your wrist. *You will not be sewing this area. Pin the rest of the way down the wristwarmer and also pin the area between your first mark and the top of the wristwarmer. The areas that are pinned are where you will be sewing.

7. Bring the wristwarmer back to your machine and again using your zig zag stitch start sewing from the top of your wristwarmer down stopping at your first mark making sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of your seam a few times. This will help to make the seam nice and strong. You are going to be wearing these lovelies a lot :) This is a thick amount of fabric and it will feel weird at first to sew with this. Make sure you use an appropriate needle for your machine for the thickness and type of fabric you decide to use to make your wristwarmers. I had to tug mine a tad to get it going at first but it made it over the hump.

8. Starting at your 2nd mark sew again with a zig zag stitch down to the bottom of your wristwarmer again using a zig zag stitch. My wristwarmer is 9 1/2" L x 4"W when sewn up.
And then....


GOOD JOB! You're done! Yippee! Wasn't that soooo easy? Super fast and so much fun! I decided to add some buttons on to mine because, well....I love buttons. These wristwarmers are a great basic way to have a starting point to go all willy nilly with! Use your creativity! Make them reversible, or make them foldable to shorten the length sometimes. Add ruffles or applique. Embroider fun sayings on them or quilt them. Do patchwork with shapes or strips..heck the world is your oyester. All I know is that these have not come off since I made them. So comfy and warm for the winter months and even better when worn while sipping some yummy coffee or tea!

*Terms of use: This tutorial is for personal use only. Please do not sell items made from this tutorial - it's bad karma :) Thank you.*

Happy wristwarmer making! Hmmmm...I feel another Comfy Sews VS Cozy Knits coming on..haha. How about making one of our Infinity and Beyond Scarves to go with your fun new wristwarmers? Have you made sewn wristwarmers before? Come join our flickr group and show off your handmade goodies! Click here to join.

sneak peek

this pic captures the chaos and also hilarity of my life the last few weeks. the never ending pile of laundry, the funny faces, the baby getting into mischief, me battling the xmas deadline, the decision to rearrange the living room, no sleep and all of us hinging on that fine line of laughter that comes when you are so exhausted and stressed that you just can't help but laugh at your situation. i'm just glad the hubs and i can still see the joy and the humour in our situation, it just makes it that much easier to handle.


in spite of my lack of sleep and huge pile of to do's i weirdly started a tutorial today and darn that daylight....it went and ran away on me. the light left and brought on the evening sky. so no more pics for me. picture me sweating from racing from the sewing machine to the ironing board and to the spot i take pics in our condo with the best light all while praying the baby won't wake up (which she did) and the toddler won't mess up my shots (which she did). it was nuts. my manual camera skills were put to the test that's for sure. i got most of the shots i needed but not the most important one - the finished product! yep, darn is right.

so this is just me saying i hope you all got some sleep last night and stay tuned for a fun little tute that will make a fabulous last minute xmas gift! any guesses?

how you feeling today? you with some of us moms who are living off coffee but are also almost too tired to even drink it? what do you do to keep going on those days you could fall asleep standing up? any tips? miracle workers? let's share :)

moments in the mommyhood - food, poo and you

i've been seeing a lot of this lately....at both ends.

oh my...it's amazing how fast you can forget the stages of babyhood. harper is on solids now and man did i forget some stuff. 3 years will do that to a girl. i forgot:

- how messy babies get...
- how they always manage to get food in their nostrils, ears and hair...
- how some of the food is actually yummy...
- how some of the food is disgusting and very stinky...
- how time consuming it is...
- and how much that darn baby poop stinks!!!!!!!!


i've been spending a lot of time lately feeding harper. feeding her boob, feeding her cereal, feeding her veggies...oh my. it feels like i'm always feeding her right now and if i'm not feeding her i'm changing those new stinky, dirty, foul smelling poops. she's lucky she's so darn cute and that her sister and her dad help me with those nasty diapers, and yeah, she's cute ain't she? i know, i know, she's my kid, but yeah....she's a cutie.


harper will be 7 months on tuesday. wowsa! i filled you in a bit the other week about her latest milestones so i won't go into full bragging mode..haha or into my usual she's growing up so fast, wahhhh story either. we did have a new experience in our house though. i left harper with my sister while jer and i attended his work party and let's just leave it at my sister and her hubby won't be having kids anytime soon..muahaha. harper did a number on them and all day today i swear she was punishing me. she seriously did not nap at all. she maybe slept a total of 30 minutes the whole day and she just went to bed...it's 9:45pm! the kid holds a grudge!


hopefully the next time i go out it will just get easier. it's funny though because i dream of alone time during the week but then when i go out man do i miss my girls. i would also like to add that i got my entire outfit for the party for $36! dress and shoes! can we say steal and a half! So proud of myself...i keep telling my hubby how lucky he is to have a wife that is so frugal but really it's because i'm saving pennies for a new sewing machine & some other goodies.


remember the wreath i made last week made from paper leaves? well this is what my girl did with all the scraps! i'm so proud of her. she has quite the imagination to put together all these little sail boats and trees from my cut up scraps. i always let her go willy nilly on our sliding glass door to our balcony, it's like her own personal canvas and we change it up all the time. mom's not allowed to move or change it..haha. thought you all might get a kick out of her masterpice.


so now that i've whined about my dislike for feeding solids and grossed you out with my talk of stinky "real" baby poo, my question is this....what's your fave baby food recipe? your tried and true baby food secrets? do you make your own? how? what? tips? secrets? spill the beans mommas! i gotta do a crash course on all this stuff. i have a book that i like, but i figured that i should ask the real experts (you guys) first and get the lowdown. hopefully we can all exhange and share some helpful advice with each other & maybe some commisseration about the not so fun side of food & poo...hahaha, or maybe it's just me??? happy monday!

sponsor love - sweet pea patterns

ohhhh, i could not resist posting this weekend to show you all the new sweet pea baby shoe pattern! cheri always blows my mind with her adorable shoe patterns! you can not get any cuter. i cannot wait until i have time to make some of them before harper is too big. seriously, the slouch boots - i. die. so adorable! i was planning on knitting harper some just like this but was whining to myself that there was no way i was going to find the time and then poof - cheri emailed me with her newest pattern and i literally squealed and woke the baby. crappy, but oh so worth it.


this is the perfect time of year for some stylish and rockin super slouchy baby booties! put them on with your girl's cutest skirt and some fab tights with legwarmers, or jeans, heck leggings work too! not a fan of beige, no prob! you make the shoes so you are in control of the fabric, the color, the texture and even what's inside and on the sole! when we were kids wasn't it fun to play fashion designer? well now you can! thanks to sweet pea pattern's easy instructions and assembly of these adorable shoes. she provides you with the hard parts and you get to go all willy nilly with the shoe! throw some new amy butler on there or maybe anna maria horner and if it's a boy why not try some helicopter green from echino nico or one of my new faves zoo menagerie by eleanor grosch.

"two little feet, ten little toes, leave their impressions today. soon they will wear two little shoes, and be running and jumping at play."
source

these little shoes also make the perfect xmas present for those special little toes in your life. can't decide which one to make? well don't fret, cheri's thought of that too. you can purchase for a great price 3 patterns for $12 or even 5 patterns for only $20! wowsa! i think i may be needing to add to my collection.


how can you resist making some of these? i get so many ideas just looking at them! all the fabric combinations, buttons, velcro, leather or suede...the possibilities are endless.


you can even make yourself a pair to match from cheri's other shop - shoeology! now that's what i call sewing fun! sweet pea's patterns range in size from newborn to 18months and cheri's goal with sweet pea patterns is to "provide stylish sewing patterns for an affordable price without sacrificing quality". all of sweet pea patterns come with easy to follow instructions with clear step by step photos and patterns professionally drawn on the computer. even a beginner sewer can make these. cheri - you rock girl!

so let's all keep those yummy, chubby little baby toes warm with some fun and stylish shoes made with love!

which pair would you love to make? fave fabric choice to make them with? have you become addicted to making your own baby shoes?

giveaway winners!

you all ready to find out the winners from the giveaways last week? here we go....first up knitterella.

knitterella giveaway winner:

Danielle said... 50

I love the cheeky sayings on the tags!! I also like the circle crochet tags. It would add some class to my handmade items.

daniv8@hotmail.com

December 2, 2010 12:58 PM

congrats danielle! jill will be in touch with you about your prize!

savvy squirrel coupon book giveaway winner:

Nikki Madden said... 17

You're on my reader.

maddenmama at gmail dot com

November 30, 2010 7:03 PM

congrats nikki! i'll be emailing you today for your mailing addy!

thanks for all of your entries everyone! happy weekend!

weekend wishes

that these were sitting in my kitchen...

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to get more fuel for my horrible addiction to mugs...

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to cook all 30 different grilled cheese listed here...

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that i could have a huge wall with my new personal mantra (and fave drink) on it...

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that this wasn't true, my poor wallet...

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that you all think this is as cute as i do...

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that someone explains this to me...

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sleep, sleep...and more sleep, please...

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turqoise and garland..can i hang out here?...

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to be able to try this chair out...

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that my hubby and i get a chance to celebrate the anniversary of our first date/engagement (not at the same time) that was on monday...

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to get my second wreath done...

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and to find out how to get my hands on one of these.

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keeping this one short and sweet folks. i'm exhausted. there, i said it. i put coffee creamer in my water yesterday and then proceeded to put refrigerated food in the cupboards. i honestly don't know how i'm still functioning, but i am. we're just counting down the days around here until the hubs is done his exam on the 17th. it's like an early xmas. finally, life will return to some semblance of normalcy. i cannot wait. more time to cuddle, to laugh, to stare in awe at our babies, watch a movie, play a game, have a long breakfast, go to bed before midnight, to be able to sew/knit without worrying about the kids....and the list goes on.

i miss the hubs, the kids miss the hubs and he misses us. so after i write this, i'm taking my sleep deprived, momma of a teething baby who's new fave thing is to bite mommas boob & a regular night terror experiencing toddler, who also has a sore hand from hand embroidery & knitting while breastfeeding, that can hardly read this post cause she's so sleepy to bed. ahhhh, bed. wishing you all a restful weekend filled with goodness.

anyone else as tired as i am? you missing your partner? what are you wishing for this weekend?

p.s. don't forget to get your entry in for the sensory store canada clothing giveaway - it's a good one!

garland roundup

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so we've had a stocking roundup and a wreath roundup so why not a garland one too? i heart a lovely garland/bunting. so pretty & so festive. these garlands are easily customizable for anytime of year. it doesn't just need to be the holidays to sport a pretty string of lovelies. take a cue from the tutorials below and use found objects in your home, incorporate some whimsy, some modern elements, some organic materials, or even just paper. get the kiddos involved or make a special project made with love by you alone. whatever you choose to do i'm sure it will bring a smile to your face when you walk in the room.

garlands are not just for trees anymore. string them up on a wall, in a corner, above a bed, a mantle or a door/window, anywhere that you want. they look fabulous in a child's bedroom or nursery and even your own bedroom. make them masculine or feminine, it's your choice. so let's get into the festive spirit shall we? let's garland it up ladies!

1. new years garland 2. colorful cardboard garland

1. pom-pom garland 2. string of lights garland

1. vintage recycled garland

1. doily garland 2. doily snowflake garland
3. felt snowflake garland 4. star garland

1. paper garland 2. retro ornament paper garland
3. pine cone garland 4. spring felt birds

1. doily garland diy 2. no sew flower garland

1. cupcake liner garland 2. paper garland

1. crochet triangle garland 2. straw & pompom garland

1. twisted felt garland 2. print & glue garland 3. everlasting garland

1. heart felt garland 2. ruffle garland 3. garlands a plenty 4. button garland
5. mitten advent calendar 6. christmas ornament bunting 7. bay leaf & pomegranate garland

1. little bird garland 2. crochet garland 3. fleece pom pom garland

readers faves:

-christmas tree bunting

which one is your favorite? did you make a garland or a bunting during the year? which one are you making this year? comment the link below and i'll add it into the post. let's get inspired together :)

moments in the mommyhood - is it december already?

i finally picked a wreath! after a lot of hours, some tweets, facebook conversations and also discussions with my 3 1/2 year old we decided to go with the paper leaf wreath. i saw a version of this over on sweet paul (get ready to drool if you go visit) and loved it's simplicity immediately. i also loved that it was made with materials i had at home. the base of the wreath was made from cardboard from my recycle bin and the leaves are paper. easy peasy. mack loves it. i haven't figured out how to hang it on our door yet so the leaves lay nicely so in the meantime it looks fabulous on our wall. i think i would miss it if i put it out in the hall on our door anyways - don't worry, we're in a condo, i'm not planning on testing this wreath out on the elements. you can find the tutorial i used here and our big wreath roundup from last week here. what do you think? you likey?


we had a busy, yet short weekend. i got absolutely zero sewing time and almost zero knitting time. i then realized today what the date was and seriously almost had an anxiety attack..how the heck did it get to be this far into december already? i'm way behind. with the hubs doing school at night and work during the day i am alone most days and i only get one day on the weekend with him home to try to get any semblance of good sewing time in let alone stay sane and get a bit of a break from the kids. this saturday though was filled with a ballet recital and lots of christmas goodness. we put up our tree and rearranged the living room. the living room part wasn't planned and took up the rest of our day. it was worth it though, we love it. hopefully i'll post some pics soon, i've got a fun granny square bunting i made to show you all.


wondering how my "sewing wall revamp" is coming along? it's not..hahaha. the desk still has to be painted and a few weeks ago my fabric was all folded nicely. now the ironing board monster has taken over. you all know what i mean right? i don't know why but i cut my fabrics on my ironing board. i put my mat up there and cut and iron away. now it's also become my catch all for all the projects i'm working on..and there's a lot. i think my craft supplies are having a party because now the knitting is hanging out there and today i found some crochet's having a good time in amongst the chaos as well. i think they are conspiring for the next comfy sews VS cozy knits.


harper has been growing like a weed. our little girl is now 6 1/2 months old and weighing almost 16lbs, has two teeth and loves peas. yes, the feeding has begun. i didn't enjoy this phase with mackenzie but it's been a bit easier with mackenzie. not sure why, but i think it may be the comfort of knowing what i'm doing this time round. we'll see. she's inch worming on her back around the house, crawling in her weird way but mostly she just wants to run. she's now standing whenever she can. pulling herself up on anything so she can stand and then let go and showing me how she can hold herself up. the crib is her fave place for workouts. i turn around and she's just standing there laughing with hands up in the air, meanwhile i'm having a heart attack! the little thing just loves it! i'm scared she's just gonna sprint across the room! i seriously think she's just going to skip fully crawling and just walk.

what's new in your house? any milestones with the kiddos? any of you make a wreath yet? so many readers just had little ones recently i just wanted to congratulate you all on your new precious bundles of joy...enjoy this time while you can and i wish you happiness and of course......sleep....and lots of it :)

p.s. - today is your last chance to enter to win the fabulous and oh, so funny knitterella stationery giveaway!

Sensory Store Clothing Giveaway!

getting my oldest daughter dressed in our house is usually a battle. she's sensitive to most of her clothes and usually refuses to wear her socks or anything tight waisted or sleeved..and the list goes on. so when i found out about one of our newest sponsors - sensory store canada, i thought "hey, that's just what i need". many children are extra-sensitive to the texture and feel of clothing and after reading how sensory store canada helps all kids, "including those with autism, sensory processing disorder, ADHD, and tactile defensiveness/sensitivity" by using "flat seaming and seamless construction for extra comfort, 100% of the softest combed cotton and specially developed soft sensory blends , wide collars, encased elastic waistbands, printed labels (tagless), custom fits, and much more" while still being stylish i knew you would all love a giveaway!


just because your child has sensory sensitivities does not mean they have to sacrifice their style or self expression. sensory store has skirts, pants, jeans, dresses - even seamless socks (i want a pair of those for myself...i hate wearing socks)! the colors are fun and the styles are modern. no boring plain clothes here. dress them up or down, but most of all feel good knowing your kids are feeling good in their clothes.


sensory store canada is run by the lovely lori, who is a very busy mom of 3 whose oldest suffers from autism. when lori was trying to find clothing for him she ran across Soft® in the states. she then saw the gap in the market in canada and decided that someone should bring this line of clothing here. that person was lori. she also runs another business called "apples to oranges consulting - special diets for special kids" where she helps helps other parents transition their child to the gluten free & casein free diet offering practical solutions for today's busy family.


so what's lori offering all of us in need of some super soft and super comfy clothing for our cuddly kiddos?

the prize:

one lucky winner will win either their choice of one top & bottom or one dress. wow! thanks lori - this is a great prize!

how do you enter:

1) simply leave a comment telling me why you would love to win this giveaway.
2) visit sensory store canada and come back and tell me what your fave item is.
3) subscribe or follow luvinthemommyhood and let me know you are.
bonus entry:
4) mention this on facebook, twitter, or tell others in the forum of your choice (ex. community forum) then come back and let me know you did that too.

rules of the giveaway:

- you must leave a valid email address with your entry or you will be disqualified.
- the giveaway is open until wednesday, december 13th, 2010 at midnight (pacific standard time).



sensory store canada also has a fab holiday sale on now! free shipping on orders over $75 or more! also their once a year sock sale and limited edition prints sale!

you can find lori on the sensory store canada facebook page here, the sensory store canada shop here, apples and oranges consulting and their blog here.

good luck and thanks for all of your entries!

Lily & Thistle's Day of Giving!

we love paper dolls in our house. i grew up with paper dolls and now my girls will too. i especially love that i can have my own paper doll and so can my daughter thanks to one of our fave mommyhood sponsors - lily & thistle! you just can't go wrong with a paper doll line that includes anne of green gables outfits! love it!

remember this face?


this is what my little one looked like when our paper dolls showed up a few months ago (you can read more about our review & lily & thistle here)! we love them and i will definitely be getting another one made up for harper so all 3 of us girls have our very own dolls. that's what makes lily & thistle special. the dolls come customized just for you - you pick the hairstyle, eye color, etc and when they show up...excitement!

talented momma hannah, who draws all the dolls and outfits herself has them packaged up all pretty for us moms to enjoy and there's even "good copies" of the dolls so you can frame them and keep them special. oh hannah, you speak right to my heart girl! also lily & thistle's special "amazing sticky strip" is FAB! the dolls have this special little sticky strip that never loses it stick. no folding or tearing just lots of wearable fun!!!

want one of your own? well now is the perfect time! hannah is offering you all a chance to stock up on your very own dolls during her special "day of giving" sale! no codes or special notes, just shop and don't forget to have fun! you're never too old for paper dolls...trust me..haha.

let's hear from hannah...

Buy any Custom Paper Doll Package and receive another free custom doll with Winter Outfits to give away (or to keep...we won't tell).

Buy ANYTHING from the shop and receive a free one year membership to the Outfit of the Month club.

Everything will be tastefully wrapped and ready to go under your tree.

Sale ends Wednesday at 12 a.m. MST so HURRY!

thanks hannah! luv ya! you can read more about hannah on her blog here, visit her other pattern shop "while they sleep" here and of course, lily & thistle here.

did you play with paper dolls when you were young? do you still play with them? which outfit is your fave?

sponsor love - magpie patterns

if you read my blog regularly you know i'm always taking on more projects than i can possibly make. i'm always dreaming, scheming and pondering how and when i'm going to get one done just so i can start another. i guess it's the gemini in me. finding time between being a busy mom to two little ones, a wife and a blogger has made scheduling time for my passion to create tricky. it's definitely something i need to move up the priority list in 2011. i am definitely sure i am not the only one constantly struggling with this dilemma. i think we all need a longer day in one way or another. what i have learned this year though is that even if it's only one seam sewn or one row knitted i'm happier for it and in turn that makes me a better mother and a happier wife :)

what that doesn't solve though is how many projects i covet. ohhhhh if you could see my list..haha, you would freak out! i freak out! it's nuts...but what's a girl to do right? how can you help it with so many wonderful and inspirational tutorials and blog posts floating around out there! so where do i go when i need a fix? i head to one of my fave online shops - magpie patterns that's owned by the lovely & one of my fave mommas to email and moan about hubbies who work to much - amy. wanna come with? it's fun to shop with a friend right? cool. let's do some xmas shopping. here's what i would pick up if i had unlimited time and budget (and skill..haha).

let's start with knitting shall we?

1. super plush earflap hat 2. french press slippers
3. penelope the empathetic monster 4. robin hood 5. erik
6. darting diagonals 7. london calling 8. rag man
9. christmas lights scarf 10. tassle pixie hat

or maybe some crochet...

1. brimster 2. fingerless mittens 3. child's capelet

ohhhh, and how about some sewing?

1. emmaline apron 2. beignet

1. castle treasury 2. mr. b rock band jacket 3. semi-fantastic mr. fox 4. carly bubble romper 5. lucy wrap dress 6. dapper dillinger trousers 7. floral tunic & twirly skirt 8. christmas cookies & cocoa

oh, and we can't leave without checking out the embroidery and books!

1. m:monkey 2. cherry tree 3. little red riding hood 4. h:hedgehog

1. more last minute knitted gifts 2. linen, wool, cotton 3. wee wonderfuls
4. vintage baby knits 5. material obsession 6. reversible knitting

ok, that was seriously so much fun! time to wipe the drool off my face. why not head on over to magpie patterns and get those xmas gifts all made with love or heck, get yourself a little pressie while you're at it.

what did you buy? your faves? you know i seriously could have bought the whole shop but i thought that just would have been excessive..haha. you up for a coffee? let's go down the road....

weekend wishes

that when the girl's get bunkbeds one day they look like these...

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to find some time to knit these stirrup leg warmers to wear under my boots...

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to make these up to use the ton of rocks we have sitting around...

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to take mack out to find our fave treasure - pinecones...

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to always remember how true this is...

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to make this gorgeous paper garland for the holidays...

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to wake up to this in my kitchen...

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to sit and watch this wonderful clock knit a scarf...

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to get my hands on this pattern...

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and to make (& drink) the best cup of hot chocolate ever.

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hi all! it's midnight as i write this and boy am i tired..haha, what else is new right moms? you all can relate i'm sure. i've got a big craft day planned for mack and i today to get the condo all ready for xmas. we'll be putting up our tree on saturday and she's just bouncing off the walls over the whole christmas thing. the hard part for me has been deciding on what to make for decorations. the list is, as always, bigger than what in reality i can make. i'm also still working on my xmas pressies and have only finished about 1/4 of them...eeek! i got started on my xmas cards though so i'm feeling good about that!

this week has been a long one. after all our snow last week we had a lot of time to relax and be at home, but this week we had to get back to our routine. mack's night terrors have gotten way better this week (thanks for all of your advice) and now it's harper keeping me up with her first tooth about to cut through. it's given me lots of time to sit and daydream over all the lovely holiday decor tutorials all your crafty ladies are making lately! wowsa! it feels like every year this just keep getting better and better. the craft community online is just so inspirational and amazing! i seriously cannot even believe that it's only the first week of december and there are already so many fabulous tutorials out! i'm scared for the rest of the month..haha.

besides crafting, we've got a little special performance to watch of mackenzie's ballet class, maybe some fun xmas activities and of course the tree decorating. i plan to try to get some sewing done on sunday and hopefully, hopefully actually open a book...oh and sleep, yeah, that would be nice...ahhh, sleep.

what's on your "must make" list for holiday decorations? do you have a favorite craft that you make every year with your kiddos? have you been up late with your little ones? wishing you lots of restful sleep and happy craftime!

p.s. don't forget to enter both of our giveaways this week! click here to enter to win a copy of the savvy squirrel coupon book and here to win some fun goodies from the fab knitterella!

Knitterella Stationery Giveaway!!!

*This Giveaway is Now Closed. Thank you for all of your entries!*

two giveaways in one week? say what?! yep, you lucky ladies you! i've got a few giveaways lined up for you guys this month cause ya know, it's the holidays & i like ya and stuff :) plus today's giveaway from knitterella has to be one of my fave products that i have recently stumbled across. i mean who can resist witty, stylish, funny & fun stationery specifically designed with knitters & crafters in mind? i can't.


i spotted knitterella on twitter and wrote to jill asking her to come do a giveaway on the blog. lucky for us she said sure! if you all know me then you know my sense of humour and i love that i can now extend that into my handmade goods. the best part of knitterella's tags besides her humorous sayings is the back. finally a gift tag for handmade goods that has the care instructions right on it! fabulous!

ok, insert me laughing right now! it's like she read my mind! the first one is my fave! love it! but if you don't need any gift tags don't worry, she's got notepads and note cards as well.

so fun and the perfect little touch to add to a special handmade gift. wanna win some?? you know you wanna......




- one lucky winner will get to choose 4 items from the knitterella stationery line!




1) visit knitterella.com leave me a comment letting me know what you'd like to win!
2) mention this giveaway on www.ravelry.com and leave me a comment telling me you did.
3) facebook mention or tweet this giveaway and comment you did that too :)
4) subscribe or follow luvinthemommyhood and let me know you are.




- you must leave a valid email address with your entry or you will be disqualified.
- the giveaway is open until wednesday, december 8th, 2010 at midnight (pacific standard time).


interested in some more info on the lady behind knitterella? first off she's a mommy and a knitter with a great sense of humour but besides knitterella she also has a graphic design business. jill zielinski designs does everything from logos, websites, illustrations, & ads to paper products and etsy banners. you need some design work - she's your gal!

so no more gifting to friends and family and having to nag them about washing instructions and home care for your lovely handmade goods. not every item can have a tag sewn on the actual item so knitterella tags make the perfect accessory for them to hang on to for a reminder on how to care for their special gift. plus they are stylish and quite memorable :)

don't want to wait till you win? you can find knitterella on their website, their blog, their facebook page and on twitter.

a big thanks to jill for putting up with all my emails and for allowing me to host this fun giveaway for all you guys! and thanks to all of you for entering! good luck :)

Karatootie Custom Dress Giveaway Winner

the winner of the karatootie custom dress giveaway is....

Lamm said...
Cute site! I wish I had a friend to blog with, so she'd keep me on my toes! :)

congratulations lamm! the girls from karatootie will be in touch with you soon about your prize!

a big thanks again to all of you who entered! have a great day :)

wreath tutorial roundup

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i've been wanting to make a wreath for the holidays for a few years now, but haven't ever found the time to get it at the top of my crafting list during xmas. this year, it's right up there. so i set out on a wild escapade across the blogoshpere in search of the perfect wreath to make for our humble abode. i quickly realized it was going to be way harder to choose than i thought and that i couldn't possible keep all of these to myself. so here's a fun roundup of some of my fave wreath tutorials for the holidays!

how about bright & colorful...

wonderful wreath

feather wreath

or calm & serene...

1. seashell wreath 2. yarn ball holiday wreath

maybe neutral & natural...

paper doily wreath

1. paper wreath 2. clothesline wreath 3. ruffly felt wreath 4. tinsel wreath

acorn wreath

1. pinecone wreath 2. driftwood wreath

or fun & funky?

1. popcorn wreath 2. ribbon wreath 3. vintage sheet wrapped wreath

1. modern fall wreath 2. pom pom wreath

extra links to more wreath roundups:

- whipup.net 30 best wreaths
- decor8 wreath roundup

reader faves:

- fall pom-pom wreath
- banner wreath
- striped felt wreath
- evergreen wreath
- ribbon wreath
- scrappy wreath
- gumdrop wreath

are you making a wreath this year? which one do you like best? feel free to leave a link in the comments to your fave wreath tutorial, we all love to see & i'll add the readers faves to the post for you all! happy making!

Savvy Squirrel Coupon Book Giveaway!

*This Giveaway is Now Closed. Thank you for all of your entries!*

i love a good deal. what i love more than a good deal is a book full of good deals! i couldn't resist hosting a giveaway for all you local (and non-local) folk to get a chance to win just that! the "savvy squirrel coupon book" is one of my fave mommy-run businesses in town. the two talented and lovely ladies behind this fun booklet have created a bevvy of savings for us to redeem in some of our fave victoria shops. whether you're looking for maternity clothing, baby gear, discounts at your fave coffee haunt or toys & goodies for the family the savvy squirrel's got a coupon for ya!

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the fall edition is filled to the brim with over $700 worth of savings! wowsa! what's the best part? the booklet only costs $10! yep, i said $10, now that's what i call a deal!







with categories like health & wellness, eats & treats, babies & tots and families you're sure to find something for everyone. some of the businesses featured are:

:) momma goose baby care - natural baby products for mom & baby
:) koo & poppet - stylish stuff for kooky kids (one of my personal faves!)
:) abby sprouts - earth friendly and organic products for mom & babe
:) hip baby - fab online & retail store for newborn to 6 years old
:) tall tales books - local children's bookstore for the kid in all of us.
:) the good planet co. - eco lifestyle store
:) awesome mommies - single destination to connect to a parenting community in the greater victoria area.
:) cat & fiddle kids - everything your organic, earth friendly child needs, and something for mom too!

*for those of you located outside of victoria, bc, canada, almost all of the shops listed today & many others in the coupon book offer online shopping.







you can get your own copy of the savvy squirrel coupon book on their website with free shipping here or it can be found at any participating location selling the booklet.







1) leave me a comment and let me know your fave place to get a good deal.
2) leave me another comment letting me know you followed luvinthemommyhood with google friend connect (on the sidebar).
3) subscribe via reader/email to luvinthemommyhood and then let me know in the comments.
bonus entry:
mention this giveaway on twitter, facebook and/or www.kidsinvictoria.com and then comment to let me know you did.

rules of the giveaway:

- you must leave a valid email address with your entry or you will be disqualified.
- the giveaway is open until monday, december 6th, 2010 at midnight (pacific standard time).

"This is a great collection of family friendly spots for all of your needs as a parent, parent to be, grandparent, uncle, aunt or friend. We know you'll enjoy using every last coupon!"

"Family Focused, Local Savings."

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thanks for the giveaway tabitha & lale! you can find out more about the savvy squirrel coupon book on their website, facebook page, and twitter. happy shopping! good luck and thanks for all for entering!