Reminisce

Sorry I don't have a post for a project today. I have been working on improving the cloth diapers I've been making, as well as some spring projects that we will be getting into. So I started thinking about vacations and summer. I was then reminiscing about our vacation last summer to Carolina Beach. Ahh....Oh how I want to be on the beach again, only not pregnant. So I'm excited that this year we will be going to Florida. It'll be nice to visit my grandma, who lives in Florida, so she can see Cora, not to mention some much needed time on the beach. Here are some pictures of our wonderful time in Carolina:

thrifty finds: spring fling

I was able to to another dress today. Cora didn't nap very well today, so Joel was watching her as I was mending. She was getting really fussy with him so I tried to finish this one really fast. But I had to stop for a while to take care of her then cook dinner, laundry, etc. So I finally got to come back to it and put the finishing touches on it. I really love how this one screams spring! I wish it were warm enough outside so I can take this one out, but I'll wear it inside for now, and hope to take it out again this weekend. Which should be nice with family coming home from out of town, and meeting our first niece! Also I would like to say that some changes will be coming to my blog shortly. Mostly the look will be changing. (Joel is gonna personalize it for me).

 

I really love the pink floral print on this one, it's also light and girly. Really all I did to this one was shorten the length a few inches then made the sleeves with the left over trim. Then it just needed a belt around the waist!

Before

scrappy leftovers: cloth diaper

Some people call me crazy or brave for cloth diapering. It may be true, it takes a strong stomach sometimes. But really it's not that bad or what you think. I have a washing machine ya know. I don't hand wash everything. I've been using gDiapers for a couple months now and I do really like them. Although they are pricey starting out, I've only had to buy one bag of disposables during that time. (I use them when we're gonna be out for a while). So cloth diapering really saves money in the long run. Cora goes through quite a few diapers during the day, so I'm always washing them. I wanted to get some more, so I thought I'd try a hand at making some of my own. I looked up a tutorial on how to make them. And this is how it turned out:

I had this shirt I bought at the thrift store for a dollar. When I got home I noticed some paint stains, can't use it now! So I thought. I figured I could use it for some cloth diapers!

I found some microfiber fabric I had stashed away, it's very absorbent. So I used two layers of that and two layers of the shirt.

I cut out the pattern.

I also used the leftover flannel I had for the soakers. Four layers of that. Then sewed the layers together. (These were part of the sleeves I trimmed up).

After I sewed everything together, this is what it looked like. I put elastic in the back and leg area. Then sewed on the velcro.

I put the flannel in the middle. I didn't sew it in, but you could. I just rather have it removable.

It's even small enough to adjust for a newborn.

My little drool monster!

thrifty finds: flannel dress

Who says flannel is just for the farmers?? I don't think so. This is a dress I picked up from the thrift store only costing me one big fat dollar. But boy was it in need of some rehab. And the result, I love.

The neckline I changed completely. More of a heart shape.

The sleeves I trimmed up a bit. I used the ties from the back of the dress to pull the sleeves up like this.

I also shortened the length by about a foot. I think I'd go plant some carrots in this dress still! Well maybe not...

And of coarse before. It looked like a very neglected old sack asking to be to be young again.

thrifty finds 2

Another dress down today!

This is what it looked like before. It was a lot longer and a tank. I trimmed the bottom, added sleeves, and turned the dress around because it buttoned down the back and I thought it would be better in the front. And I added a belt around the waist.

thrifty finds

I am a stay-at-home mom right now. I was working full-time Mon-Fri. When Cora was born we decided I would quit my job to take care of her. I couldn't imagine leaving her at a daycare all day, not to mention the price. Since we did lose a big chunk of income, we had to reanalyze our budget. So, we have to be more cautious of what we do with our money.

After I had Cora, I didn't and still don't fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes. I didn't want to spend a lot on new clothes while I'm in-between so I went to the local Salvation Army, which is huge and one of my favorite stores to go to. Everyday they have some sort of discount. On the particular day I went, the "tan tag" items were on sale. To make my shopping go a little quicker through the dozens of rows, I only looked for tan tag items. I bought 28 pieces of clothes for $32. And the majority of the clothes don't fit. I purposefully bought them sizes bigger and maybe on the ugly side. Why? So I can spend $1 on a piece of clothing and make it my own! I got my inspiration from another blog I follow. She does absolutely amazing things to the ugliest clothes! Click here to see her blog. I may not be able to make em look as good but it's worth a try! I work on something when Cora naps or whenever I have time, so it may take me a while to finish something. Today I manage to finish my first piece of clothing.

This is what it looked like before. I picked it because I liked to fabric. And yes, it is ugly. I cut out the shoulder pads, cut off the lace, lowered the neckline, took in the sides, shortened the skirt by half, shortened the sleeves a bit, and replaced the lace. It's hard to see in this pic, but there was also a sash tied into a bow on the side that I cut off as well.

I decided for this one it would be a better shirt than a dress, though it could be a short dress if I dared. I loved the way it turned out for my first!

As you can see, I trimmed the lace up quite a bit, then sewed it back on.

Mason jar soap dispenser

 I wanted to make a soap dispenser using a mason jar and old soap bottle. This is what I had already so I didn't need to buy anything. I also used a drill, box cutter, and glue.

I cut a hole in the lid, then using the cutter, I cut the threads off the soap bottle and glued them on the lid. Easy peasy.

I love the classic look of it in my bathroom too. Although I wish I used a white pump instead of black. Oh well.

Bedroom Makeover

Finally! We've lived in our house for over a year, and our bedroom was the last room we did anything to. I bought the paint sometime last year thinking we would paint it. Well, something came up...a baby was in our future. Needless to say, other rooms needed our attention first. Then we started the downstairs makeover. So this past weekend my dad and brother came over to help me paint. For a few days afterward I did some cleaning and decorating. This is how it turned out.

This is a few months after we moved in. Boring...We got a new bedroom set that fit better, painted the walls, new lamps, rug, and pictures.

soda free

Yesterday was the start of lent, which means no more soda. Yep, no Dr. Pepper. I don't go to the Catholic church anymore but I do find the time of fasting during lent a challenge for me to usually give up something unhealthy. I have a huge sweet tooth and I don't want to buy my sweets in the store. Instead, I'm making my sweets. I know this doesn't necessarily mean it's healthier but I have more of a control of how much "sweet" I put in it.

source: blogger

When I was pregnant, I was pretty good about how much caffeine I would consume. So when Cora was born I consumed a bit more DP and coffee than need be probably. I still need to be careful with my caffeine intake since I'm nursing, otherwise she won't fall asleep! Something I learned in nutrition class is that caffeine inhibits the bodys ability to absorb nutrients, so eating something healthy while drinking coffee means I'm not getting all the nutrients.

Anyways, my point is that I'm giving up soda and cutting back on my sweets during this time of Lent. If I can do it for 40 days, I can probably keep to it thereafter. And maybe lose some more baby weight faster! My husband, being as sweet as he is, told me he doesn't think I can do it. Hmmph...here's to motivation!