What I am Grateful for Today: Big Guy

My Big Guy will be four this year. Next year he will be in Kindergarten and I will have lost him forever! That's what it feels like sometimes, as I look ahead to the transition from home to school. For now, he is the little boy who picks me a flower everyday. Who holds my hand in the backseat of the car when he is sad. Who calls for me every morning, and refuses to let daddy get him out of bed. Who crawls into my bed and under the covers to lazily wake up while I get dressed. Who hugs me and kisses me and says "I love you" as often as my soul needs it. Who wants to spend all his time at home with me. My little boy who is becoming my big guy.

What I am Grateful for Today: Small One

 
When I went upstairs this morning after my shower, I was called into Small One's room by Husby. I was greeted with a big smile and arms shooting up in the air for me to pick him up. I picked him up and his whole body melted against me as he laid his head on my shoulder. He loves me so much and always makes me smile. Sure, he can try my patience, but even when he's screaming he's hilarious. He throws his whole body back like a dolphin jumping out of the water. He sat in the kitchen with me this morning. I made sandwiches and small one read his book while eating an oatmeal muffin. It was quiet in this Maine house and my boy was content.

Adventures in sewing for grown ups - Part Two The Pinterest Board

Once I had decided which pattern I wanted to pursue, I of course procrastinated in every way I possibly could rather than start actual construction. Pinterest makes that ever so easy to do!

As it turns out, someone called Gertie, who is apparently quite famous in the sewing world, did a Sew-a-long for the Crepe dress. In a Sew-a-long, you are literally sewing along with other bloggers/sewers who are doing the same pattern at the same time, mostly keeping in step with each other and watching Gertie for hints, tips and tricks. Now I'm not sure a Sew-a-long would work with the schedule of mother-of-two-with-a-full-time-job and so I'm not glad I missed it, it is nice however that this sew-a-long created a plethora of blog posts across the world for me to read in the here and now.

 I pinned all of the ones that I found on Pinterest, searching by accurate spelling and mis-spelling, and then I started on Google and Gertie to fill in the gaps that I imagined existed. 95% of what I have pinned are dresses that I like, the other 5% are of bloggers who did something I definitely didn't like so that I'd know what to avoid. I didn't pin if I just didn't like the fabric. 

The advantages of creating a Pinterest board for the pattern you like, is that it builds confidence. You can see that people of all skill levels are making something successfully. You can also see whether or not your chosen pattern looks good on a variety of body types - this one does by the way. You also get to see what kind of fabric works well and which prints you like.

Funnily enough, I find myself reading less of what Gertie has to say and more of the other bloggers, though I know I have a good step by step reference when I am tempted to throw my arms up in the air.

Of the blogs that I have found I especially enjoyed Erika's extended wrap with the giant bow, though it's not exactly what I'm going for. I loved that Lynne made the skirt fuller and added buttons, but I do like this as a wrap and want to avoid button holes right now. My favorite fabric is hard to pick, I like Ysolda's green print but I also like Mielitty's floral and then there is something wonderful about Tabatha's GIANT polka dot.

Pattern - check
Pinterest hints - check
Fabric...

What I am grateful for today: Husby

Husby is my rock. He loves me so much and he tells me every day. He thinks I'm beautiful even when I do not, sometimes especially when I do not which I find hilarious. He teaches me new things, like how to get a tick out of a three year old's neck or how to find your way in the woods if you are lost and it's cloudy (where does the lychen grow on the tree). I fell in love with him thirteen years ago and have never looked back. Husby is a man's man. He chops down trees, he grills every night, he hikes whenever he can, he built an addition at his parents house for me when we needed to live there. He takes care of me in so many ways. He works for the same school department I do now, and every so often I will hear his voice on the other side of the office and think how wonderful it is that he is here and he is mine. He is my best friend and I would rather do nothing with him than something with anyone else.

I will be happy Dammit

I am healthy, I have food in my belly, I have no allergies, I have born two beautiful children, I have clothes that fit and that make me feel pretty.

I am overweight, I feel overweight, I am fat, I feel unattractive

I have a beautiful home with space for my children to run around in, a lovely green garden and a peach tree for Pete's sake. I have enough clothes to go several weeks without cleaning anything and the boys each have a whole wardrobe of cuteness that was filled with love.

I have no time to keep my house clean and do my laundry.

I write for two successful websites and get paid to do it. I just finished making pants for my boys. I have a book on the nightstand and many more waiting to explore.

I have no time to do the things I love, that make me me, craft, read, write.

I have a husband who loves me no matter what, who thinks I am beautiful. I have children who love me without condition and who pick Dandelions for me everyday because "they are pretty like you mummy"

I have no motivation

My life is so full with my husband, my children, my passions in life.

I want to sleep

I'm bored not hungry.

I am hungry all the time

I am beautiful to my husband, my children, my dad, my God.

I'm fat and cumbersome and have no energy

I am beautiful to my husband, my children, my dad, my God.

I'm fat and cumbersome and have no energy

I am beautiful to my husband, my children, my dad, my God.

I'm fat and cumbersome and have no energy

And several hours later I received my Bible Verse of the Day in my inbox:

When God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil - this is a gift of God. 

Ecclesiastes 5:19

Adventures in Sewing for Grown-Ups - Part One "The Pattern"

I have many home made dresses, thank to my mum! We make them together, but truth be told, I generally cut the fabric and she does everything else! I have sleeveless dresses before, very simple ones, then in 2007 I purchase a more involved pattern and made a lined dress all by myself. It didn't quite fit so I had to add an extra panel. The straps weren't quite right and needed adjusting. I wore it a few times but not often. Considering I have forty pounds extra hanging off me now than when most of my clothes were purchased or made (pre baby number one) it doesnt' get worn at all.

My mum and I try to sew together whenever she comes over, but with two grandkids to play with we don't get much time in these days. So it's time to put on my big girl panties and cross the final few hurdles I need to overcome in order to be a maker of my own clothes.

Given my current size and the way I feel about myself, I needed something pretty that was good for several sizes, something that I could lose weight in, something that would be comfy. I generally hate wrap dresses, but as soon as I saw the Crepe dress from Collette, which wraps in the back and has a fully formed front, I knew I had a winner. It is classified for a beginner and has no zippers or buttons to confuse my sewing newb mind. I usually only buy patterns on sale at JoAnns for a buck a piece, and Collette patterns sell at $18. I'm hoping this speaks for itself in quality as I have always found Simplicity patterns to be quite confusing.

Thanks to Z Fabrics in Portland I am now the proud owner of my first not-free-not-$1-on-sale-at-Joanns dress pattern.

It's exciting. There's a book inside instead of a big sheet of instructions. Not all the terms I need to know are included in the glossary. I was expected to already know what a selvage was - thank you internet! I have read through the pattern already and am sufficiently scared. Luckily I have my pinterest board to turn to...

Mothers Day in Maine

I could hear giggles and crashes coming from the kitchen as I laid in bed indulgently late. I really wanted to get rid of my morning breath, but didn’t want to interrupt the magic that my son was creating. At 8am in walked my little guy with a cup of milky tea and breakfast for his mummy in bed. He yelled SURPRISE with the biggest smile on his face and handed me my tea. HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY he yelled as he jumped into bed with me. Husby went to get small one who had slept in for the whole of the prep time. With a naked baby and everyone else in PJS we tucked into my breakfast in bed, we shared. There were scrambled eggs sprinkled with cheerios and my little guy had done everything except stirring the hot pan. He put the teabags in the pot, poured the milk, cracked the eggs and sprinkled the cheerios on top. It was the most wonderfully yucky thing ever! The tea was not too bad and actually better than Husby’s first attempts in the early days of our marriage.

We all went downstairs and the boys played while I took a luxurious shower. Little guy helped me pick out what to wear for mother’s day and off we went to church. I was in the nursery today and since small one was the only baby, we combined with the toddler room and I was able to watch both my guys paint Mother’s Day pictures for me.

After church we were planning on going for a picnic at the park, but it had rained all morning and so was a little too damp. Big guy was disappointed and asked to go to the mall instead! We went to Bugaboo Creek for lunch, where big guy ate very little and small one consumed his body weight in everything put before him. We were complimented on having a beautiful and such well-behaved family. Interesting as Husby and I were both breathing very deeply to get through a few interesting moments with our boys! But they remained in their seats for most of the meal, and did really well. My big guy made sure he paid for lunch on Mother’s Day by giving our server a dime, a Canadian dime, as were leaving!

We went from there to Books-a-Million and let the boys pick out new books. A new bear book for small one, and Clifford’s puppy days for the big guy. Then per instructions we headed into the mall. It had been part of the plans for after the picnic anyway, to head to the 40% dress sale at Ann Taylor loft and pick out a new dress for mummy. Well big guy ran in and out of the fitting room helping me try things on, and although he liked most things, I didn’t find one I liked. We went to Old Navy to get a balloon and this was where small one decided he’d had enough. We went back to the car and they played with the balloon in the wind all the way home. It was hilarious.

Once home, small one went down for a nap, big guy laid down on the couch for some downtime with one of his favorite movies – Basil the Great Mouse Detective – I went into the back garden to sit on my bench swing with a cup of tea and the phone, for a chat with my mummy.

The rest of the day was a little chaotic as small one did not nap well, and the webcam was only partially cooperative. Dinner was a smorgasbord of leftovers and cereal, followed by a bath. Husby handled bath time while I sat on the couch with, yes, a cup of tea, and began to read the Collette pattern that I had brought recently. I love the way this pattern is put together, so detailed, and there are so many blogs online that cover this dress. I’m really excited and I finally know what a selvage is!

After bath time I took small one up early for PJs and his new book. He was really angry and started to rub his eyes before grabbing the book and throwing it across the room. So I put him down and of course he started screaming. I went into big guys room to hear the end of his new book and get my cuddle, then went back to small one for some snuggle time. I managed to calm him down but he did not want to be out of my arms. When Husby was done with big guy, he took over soothing duties and I went downstairs for some more mum time.

Top that off with a cracking season finale of Once Upon a Time and you’ve got yourself one top notch Mother’s Day.