#553 - elephant stencil

 

I saw this cool t-shirt design on my sister's shared items and decided to make this for her.  

I bought a men's small white (which order should those adjectives go in?) sweatshirt on clearance ($2.79 @ Target).

Sewed the sides in so it didn't look like a bubble.

Dyed it pearl gray.

Cut out a freezer paper stencil (using this method). 

Painted the design on.

I can't wait to use this stencil again!

#536 - State of Idaho Pillow

 

I saw this Idaho State pillow and thought I could recreate it with some red corduroy I had laying around (thanks mom for the material!)  

Promise...the above photo doesn't do it justice.

Here's how I did it:

 

1 - found a map of Idaho on the internet and blew it up to the size I wanted (about 20 inches high and 12 inches wide)  email me if you want the pattern...i'll send it your way.  Then I pinned it to the corduroy rights sides facing each other.

2 - cut out pattern leaving about 1/4-1/2 inch trim

3 - use a white crayon (i didn't have a fabric marker) to trace around pattern (probably not neccessary)

4 - sew around pattern, leaving about 2 inches open to turn inside out.  I sewed it twice to make sure it stayed.  I also used black thread b/c I ran out of red.

5 - cut of corners, so turning inside out would be easier and turned it inside out

6 - sewed white felt heart onto our hometown location with black embroidery thread

7 - stuffed it with stuffing

8 - sewed up the 2 inch hole (with correct color thread)

I think this is a perfect gift for a college student to remind them of home, so I gave it to my sister Kar.

#495 - girl scout calendar...Buenos Aires...100 kids

Did you know that I was in the 1988 Girl Scout Calendar?  

Pretty sure I was the month of October :)

It was only $1!

I need to find a copy, so that I can post it for you all.

Did you know that I lived/worked in Buenos Aires, Argentina for 3 months?

3 times for 1 month each

I love love love it there!

Buenos Aires means "Good Air" in Spanish

1st time I went my mom, my dad, Karli and my uncle were there 

Pepe went with me the last time I was there

Best decision ever!

Pepe's parents (my inlaws) are moving there in 2 months

To serve a mission for our church

 Did you know when I was little and my mom would ask me how many kids I wanted to have some day I would say, "100"?

Now that I have 2,

I want more!

They are intoxicating

Parker because he is warm, snuggly, and precious

Oster because he is SO DANG Cute!

Even when he tries to drive his car all over Parker...

Real conversation with Oster last night...

Me: We have to be quiet because daddy has to go to work in the morning.
Me:  What does mommy do for work?

Oster:  Mooooovies (I swear that's what it sounded like at least)

 Me:  What does daddy do for work?

Oster:  Moovies 

Me:  Daddy works at movies too?

Oster:  No, daddy works at church

Me:  what does daddy do at church?

Oster:  He plugs and flips the lid 

Oster sees Pepe plug his laptop in at church and open it up for his Sunday School class

Me:  What does mommy do at church?

Oster:  Plays with toys

I work in the nursery with the little kids 

#494 - quick birthday postcards

It was my mom's birthday and my sister's birthday last week...

(happy birthday to you both)..

so I took some inspiration from Parker's ABC book and made some quick postcards for them...

Super Easy Homemade Postcards


-take a picture
-have it developed (I usually do them matte)
-gluestick thin cardboard to the back of the picture (I use cardboard from some left over DVD mailers I have)
-cut off excess cardboard
-make sure picture is glued good
-write a note (for my mom's card I wrote, "You are out of this world!")
-Attach postage
-Mail

#491 - Happy Birthday to....

Happy Birthday to Farley...nope...

Happy Birthday to Barley....no...

Happy Birthday to Harley...no...

Happy Birthday to Marley...nope...

Happy Birthday "Tarli" (that's how Oster says your name)...yep!  

Have a great one! 

ps...stole the awesome pic from your facebook page!

#484 - color coded bookshelf

This is mostly a post for my sister Kar.  She lived with us last summer and I think our unorganized bookshelf drove her crazy (she still asks me about it.)

color coded bookshelf

So, I color coded it.  I know it is super trendy right now, but I love how much more organized it looks!

How do you organize your books?

#469 - suede shoes and cowboy boots

There's not a pletheral of cute little boys shoes, like there are for little girls.  But I must say that I've really loved these two pairs of shoes Oster has.

The suede shoes (above) that Aunt Kar got for Oster at a thrift store last summer and now he wears them to church every week.

And the cowboy boots (below) that grandma got Oster to remind his of his "western roots".  He wore these last summer, but has long since grown out of them.

#465 - mint chocolate chip "anything"

i'm sort of on a diet right now (trust me, i'm not being too strict, but trying to lose a little of the baby weight) and thought i would share 2 diet secrets that are both mint chocolate chip:

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Philosophy Shower Gel - seriously, smells like you are eating mint chocolate while you are taking a shower! (thanks Kar!)

Skinny Cow Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cones - delicious!

Speaking of "delicious", Oster smelled Parker yesterday and said, "he smells delicious!"

#403 - 3 Things, 3 Hours, Philly

When BT and Kar (my siblings) were here, we went to Philadelphia, PA for 3 hours and we decided to do 3 things.

Here they are in no particular order (well, I guess the order in which we did them, but not the order of my preference):#1 - Philly Cheese Steak
*We went to Jim's Steaks
*Cost about $10, but we split it between the 3 of us (Baby O didn't want to eat it)
*My siblings are super healthy, that's why we got a cheese steak with all those veggies
*If I were to order it, I would have gotten it authentic with Cheesewhiz (notice the look on my face to the far right...I'm thinking "where's the Cheesewhiz?")
#2 - Liberty Bell and Independence Hall
*Independence Hall is where the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution were adopted
*Liberty Bell wasn't crowded at all (we went during the week)...which was great for Baby O
*Loved the big grassy area...glad my siblings were there to entertain Baby O
*My pregnant belly makes an appearance again...about 35 weeks here...it's as big as the bell!#3 - Rocky Stairs
*Baby O was sleeping, so I stayed in the car, while Kar and BT ran the stairs and hung on the Rocky Statue
*Philadelphia has a beautiful skyline

The one thing we missed was "West Philadelphia". Kar wanted to see where the Fresh Prince was born and raised...and the playgrounds where he spent most of his days.

Have you ever been to Philly? Any good recommendations of what to do?

#400 - Happy Mother's Day! ~ a post for mom

OK, so I'm doing one better, I'm not just tweeting or facebooking, but I'm blogging about my mom on Mother's Day.

In fact, it's a blog from all of us (kids and grandkids.)

Why We Love You Mom ~

I love how you are always positive. - Brian aka BT

You befriend anyone no matter who they are. - Karli aka Kar

I love your positive attitude through all of life's roller coasters. - Casi

You are a strong, independent woman and you stand up for what you believe in. - me aka tvmom

We love that you are a giver. You always have something to give everybody. It makes us realize that you are always thinking of us. - Jordan and Rachael.

I also really love that you treat others with so much respect and kindness, that has been a great example to me of how to live my life. - Brian

You are a great example to look to. - Casi

I love how you are always thoughtful and thinking of others. - me

You send me postcards in the mail, play puzzles with me and skype with me. - Baby O

Memories Growing Up With You As Our Mom

When growing up I would remember riding the bus home, but I LOVED the days when I would see the blue suburban parked on the street because I knew mom was there to pick us up. Happy days. Love you Mom!!! - Casi

I remember mom would always get the end of a pen and tickle my face when I was younger. I also remember we put our bikes in the trunk and go on bike rides to the trail that goes along Highway 95. I also remember she would take me to go roller skating all the time when I was younger. - Karli

I remember (and still love) the back rubs, the tickling...just feeling relaxed and taken care of. - me

After Mae was born, Mom came down and stayed with Rachael and me for a week. She made dinner for us, she cleaned for us, and she watched Mae for us so we could get some sleep. Rachael and I were both so appreciative of her willing to sacrifice for us. I am very grateful for Mom and the example she is to me. -Jordan

We love you!
Casi, Jordan, Brian, Karli, Baby O, Mae, Pepe, Rachael, Pedro and me

#387 - free cupcakes

The night before Kar and BT left, we were walking through the mall at closing time. I saw a Cinnabon employee (he must have seen my big belly and my cute sister) wave me and my sister over to give us free cupcakes.

Did you even know that Cinnabon does cupcakes? Honestly, I don't think I will buy one in the future, but for free...sure this pregnant woman will take one!

#380 - flying baby

happy Sunday
this picture above reminds me of this
picture taken by my lovely sister, Kar

#377 - Obama poster in DC

Last summer when my sister was here, she found the coolest Obama poster, but never was able to take a picture of it (it's really not a great neighborhood.) Well, Kar and BT are visiting and guess what one of their first photos was? Yep, this poster. Seriously, if you go to this location to see the poster, you'll get it.

View Larger Map
And for the tech savvy folks, here's a interactive map to view this location.

*Note - no political statement here, just like the coolness of this photo and the location it is in...(keepin it neutral for the new baby coming.)