Flowers for Nothin

Last evening, after a very long day for both of us, my husband came home from driving DD#3 to and from her violin lesson and handed me a beautiful boquet of huge sunflowers.  I was thrilled and asked what they were for.  His reply?  "Just because I love you."...with a grin.  My life is good.  :)

Clearance Purchase

The other day I was at Lowe's looking for supplies to make a niddy noddy.  (A post for another day.)  As I was going to check out I happened to walk by an end cap which had some clearance items on it.  One of those items was for a working air hocky table that had to be put together using tools.  I couldn't help it....as I walked by it jumped into my cart and asked to be taken home to my kids.  What is a mom to do?  I bought if course!  Then, with delight I watched my 11 year old son work all afternoon to put it together himself and then steal 8 batteries from various things around the house to make the fan work.  It did and for the next several days everyone was challenged to a game or two.  This is DS and DH playing a quick game after breakfast, before school the other morning.  All in all, this was totally worth the 18 dollars I paid for it.  I love clearance bargains!

Easter Skirt and the Lesson I Learned

For Easter I made a couple of skirts.  This is one of them.  I love to make skirts.  First of all, they are quick and easy.  I especially love cotton skirts with an eleastic waist that don't require a lot of fitted work.  Some people love the challenge.  I just love having a quick outfit ready to go that is hopefully comfortable, cool and reminds my kids that I love them.  I learned that using a binding for a skirt that has a circle bias cut is Fabulous!!!!  No rolling, puckering, bunching....  It was super fast and looked great.

Spring Break Fun

Tonight DS is having a campout with friends in the back yard.  So far they have played basketball, eaten peaches and popcorn with red hots on the side and washed it down with jello oranges made by dd#3 for a special treat.  They are right now snuggly tucked into a new tent that DS is feeling very mature about being given COMPLETE responsibility to care for through the upcoming spring and summer fun.  A lantern (left over from a pioneer trek) is hanging at the top, snack bowls and water bottles are tucked around the edges and a game of UNO is in progress.  A thumbs up was given by all as I checked on them and offered hugs or high 5's for a tuck in.  Life is good!

Easiest skirt EVER!!

So, I went looking for a skirt for dd#3.  I decided to be lazy and so I went to Saver's looking for something that could be cut off easily.  I found this dress, which still had the tags on and was adorable as it was for only $12.99.

Here is what it looked like after cutting off the top, surging the ends (with the zipper top pulled down so as not to ruin the zipper) and then ironing, folding and sewing the top of the skirt.  It fit her perfectly with a nice fitted look.  You'd think it was made for her.  A cute turquoise round neck T-shirt from Ross for $6 dollars and you have a darling, simple, time efficient Easter outfit.  Happy girl, Happy Mom.  :)

Kook aid + Yarn = :)

I've been experimenting with yarn dying with Kool Aid.  I am having a blast.  There are lots of tutorials out there, so I won't give a detailed tutorial.  Instead, I'll share a basic overview.  I purchased some sock yarn (Lion Brand Sock Ease, 100 gram skein) on sale at Joanns.  I like this brand because it is 75% wool, 25% nylon and takes dye beautifully.  I re-wound it into a large skein around chair legs in my kitchen.  Next, I soaked it in luke warm water with vinegar for a few minutes.  Then added the dye and heated it in the microwave to set the dye until the water was clear.  I rinsed it in the bath tub and hung it to dry.  Tadaaah!  I love it.  These will become socks, or scarves or shawls...probably for gifts.  I love to play with yarn and color.  Happy, Happy Day!