Headband Holder

If you are like me ( and Im assuming have a girl ) you  your daughter is starting to accumulate quite a collection of beautiful flowered headbands. 

I've been having a hard time trying to store them without smashing the pretty flowers. 

So last night laying in bed I had this brilliant idea. 

( Ok its really not brilliant and Im sure I am not the first to think of this but please don't tell me) 

Please over look the finger prints all over the mirror ha. 

Supplies: 

Lemonade canister ( you could use an oatmeal as well)
* I found this size is perfect so not to stretch out the headbands*

Hot glue gun

Fabric to fit around top, bottom, and sides of your canister 

Here is what I did ( pretty self explanatory) 

** I first washed and dried out my canister ** 

1. Take the label off so your fabric is glued right to the canister

2. Cut two circles about half an inch bigger than the top and bottom of your canister -glue on

** Pay no attention to the one pigtailed, no pant wearing toddler pushing a high chair past me **

3. Slowly glue around the body of the canister

And...

A more realistic amount of headbands

You now have a way to store all those pretty headbands without any smashing :) 

PS Could I say canister ONE more time in the post?! 

Introducing the "B" Book...

Have you heard of the "b." toys? For Bristol's birthday a good friend of mine gave her the music set and I was hooked! I love them because they are colorful, simple, and encourage imaginative play. 

We buy ours at Target but Im sure their are many other places to get them. 

Here is a link to their blog: b.log

With each toy comes a cute little booklet of kids quotes ( which are pretty entertaining) and words to live by. I have saved two of these little booklets because I wanted to make Bristol a little book of her own. 

Not just in blog land but real life Bristol's nick name is "B" so its perfect! :) 

Last night I finally got around to making her book... 

To make this book I used fabric I has on hand, contact paper to laminate the pictures and quotes, random pictures of B, and two binder rings. 

Each page has a picture of her and the corresponding quote from the b. booklet. 

Their were 12 pages in all. 

She loves to look through it with the pictures of herself Ha!

Its also great because its ( for the most part) quiet! :) 

Now if I can just learn how to cut a straight line...

Need a change...

My husband has an ever changing work schedule. 

Thus B and I's schedule is constantly evolving to match his in order to get the most family time out of the day. 

We are in a rut though. I find most days we arent showered or dressed before noon. 

(I have run out of excuses to tell the mailman why I am not dressed in normal clothes at 12:45. ) 

I feel that this routine is making me less productive and unmotivated to be productive... so I need to change it. 

However, to do that I have to get up earlier. 

I hate getting up. Mornings are not my friend. 

What works in your house? What kind of routine do you have down during the week? 

Please tell me Im not the only one who most week days is still in sweats when Oprah comes on.

Vitamin C is very important...

Yeah, these photos are un-edited. Shame on me. 

Vintage Inspired Pinafore

When I was pregnant with Bristol I had big expectations on how she would be dressed each day. Cute, matching outfits with all the accessories. The reality is 3 - 4 days a week we really don't leave the house. Thus, jeans and shirt are what she ends up wearing. 

A few days ago I saw this super cute pinafore on Etsy. I thought it would be adorable over her jeans and t-shirt. Apparently, someone else agreed and bought it right up. :( 

So I decided to try and make my own. Their are a few things I need to work with but overall Im happy with it. It definitely dresses up the stay at home days outfit and helps save her white shirts from stains. :) 

B does not like to get her hands dirty... 

Inspecting how the garden is looking...

Have a great weekend! 

High- Low

I have a fun project to share but it keeps snowing and ruining my nice picture opportunities SO.... I may just break down and post it anyway since Im excited! :) 

High-Lows:

Lows-

SNOW.  Im all set with that. 

B having - we will call them messes- and having to have a bath EVERY diaper change. 

Totally forgetting we had play date this week. :( 

High- 

Out of the 5 words B says regularly, "Please" is one of them!  

Overcoming my crafting block. 

Having clean laundry. 

A quick visit from my Dad this week. 

Ill be back later today to post what I have been working on! :) 

Toddler Friendly Princess Gear

Princesses come in all ages and sizes.

When trying to come up with some Princess accessories for my 18 month old,  I didnt feel exactly comfortable giving her a ribbon covered wooden dowel- aka a wand. 

I could just picture it ending badly.

 ( Unfortunately, B has inherited my clumsiness. )

The other day I was at Joanns and spotted these sparkly foam sheets. 

Pink + Glittery = me extremely excited.  

I wasnt sure exactly what I would do with them but I picked two up- I mean you never know when sparkly, foam sheets may be needed.
( The glitter foam also comes in a bunch of different colors) 

Then I found the perfect project. 

Although, I kinda feel silly calling it a craft or project since it is so simple.

I made the silver crown and wand out of one sheet of silver with some left over. 

I free hand drew everything on the back and put it all together using my hot glue gun. 

( The ribbon and thin elastic I had on hand) 

I love them because they are soft and safe for even the roughest Princesses. :) 

How cute would these be as party favors for a princess party?? 

Vintage.

My love affair with vintage items started with Antiques.

Lucky for me I live in New England and their are a plethora of Antique stores around. 

Recently I have branched off to many other items. 

It first started with vintage sheets for sewing/ craft projects, then home goods for decorating, and most recently vintage clothing. 

I love the idea of finding unique, well made ( in the US!) items. 

I find many of the children's items are age appropriate and simply adorable- all for a reasonable price. 

Here are a few things I have recently picked up for myself and Bristol: 

One thing to keep in mind with clothing is sizing. Most places on Etsy that sell vintage clothing give the garments measurements since sizes have changed.

Also, I find most places are very upfront about any wear or defect in the clothing they sell. 

Here are a few shops that sell a great variety of items: 

Kid Wonder

Sally Jane Vintage

Second Wind Vintage

I love that shopping this way you are supporting small businesses!

Here is B today wearing GAP skinny jeans, a thrifted plain pink onesie, and a vintage sweater. 

The only vintage thing I am wearing today are old GAP sweat pants from 10 years ago... not the cute kind of vintage ha. 

Hope you all are having a great weekend! 

Here it is... and High/ Lows

** I found these today... they were taken on the way to the boat show a few weeks back. We may be admitting Bristol into therapy for hoarding My Little Ponies...**

This week has been a rough one. 

As a family ( mostly myself ) we are having a hard time adjusting to Matt's new work schedule. 

The 1 hour we get with him a day from 2:30-3:30 is tough. 

Knowing it will be like this till the end of May is tougher. 

B notices the change and is acting out more than her usual spunky self. 

My patience is gone. 

Im tired. 

And lonely. 

And bored. 

To add to it I have been dealing with some very emotional health issues 

( nothing very serious just frustrating- to say the least) 

So I said it.
I complained. 

I feel a little better now. :) 

Ok on to High- Low...

Lows: 

All of the above. 

High: 

Bristol is saying a new word almost everyday which makes communication much easier. 

( She also is using her signs more) 

I have discovered some super fun vintage shops on Etsy. 

Tonight we are having dinner with some of my all time favorite people!

Last night a friend came over for dinner and it was great to catch up- I love friends like that.  

Our snow is melting. Matt, B, Gage Dog and I went for a walk today... IN TEE SHIRTS. :)

So here is my super self pity party post.
( wow thats a lot of "P"s)

I have a few fun things planned for next week though :)
- Sans pity party.

Pottery Barn-ish Easter Eggs

I saw these:

in my faithful PB catalog. ( You guys are going to think I sleep with it ha) 

Actually, I go through it and mark which pages have things I like, then I go back and look at it and see if their is anything I can make.

ANYWAY...

I figured I had better get crack- a lackin on this project or before I knew it Easter would be over.

I did not take step by step pictures. But heres what I did: 

1. Picked up an 18 pack of eggs from Joann Fabrics ( with my 1/2 coupon they came to $3.99) 

2. Hot glued THIN yellow polka dot ribbon to create loops

3. Stencil "Happy Easter" on larger eggs 

4. Braved the rain and cold to cut down leaf-less branches to make arrangement. I used left over moss from my "S" project to cover up the floral foamy stuff.

( The milk glass vases I picked up for .49 cents each and used a two pack of green floral spongey stuff that I found at the Dollar Store to secure the branches)

I have to finish my mantel to hopefully "fill in" in bit...

Thats it!
Happy Easter!

And here are a few pictures of B - just cause I can...

She is such a fashionista...a head of the treads...

Planning their escape.