A Year in Review.

Just recently was mine and Alex's first Anniversary. WHOO! WHOO!

July 30th to be exact. I love anniversaries and special dates that we keep track of because they remind us of a special event, but also because they remind us of how we got there.

When Alex asked what I wanted to do for our anniversary, I just said "Surprise me". And that's what I wanted. I know it's often a joke that women say, surprise me or I don't care and really they want something specific and really is that the way to get what you want? No. But the Man delivered and I was surprised!

I was left a sweet little note in the morning telling me that he was taking me out to a fancy dinner and to dress up nice in a dress (he knows I love things like this).

When my sweetie came home from work he drove us to Harry's Uptown (I had no idea at the time) which is a very snazzy restaurant in Manhattan. When we got there some beautiful orchids were sitting on our table.

Now,

I love orchids, they are my favorite flower ever but I honestly thought that they were the table centerpiece(it was that kind of restaurant y'all. I mean, we weren't at outback steakhouse). So I said something really casually in passing like "Oh orchids, so pretty..." and then my husband was like "You like them?! Good, because they are yours."

I was super shocked I mean how on earth did he get them here without me noticing? Had he actually set this up before hand? I'd seen these things happen before but not in real life and not to me! I was really impressed....and maybe it doesn't take a lot to impress me but I thought that was the sweetest, best anniversary ever and I can't wait for all the others!

And that's not all....

While we are on the subject of our anniversary I wanted to take a little bit to share our wedding photos(some of them).

like I mentioned before I like anniversaries because they serve as a reminder of how we got to where we are now.

Our anniversary reminds me of all hours, miles and speeding tickets clocked by Alex driving to see me every weekend. We dated for a year and two months before we got married and a year and one month of that time we were at least three hours apart. Alex drove every weekend to see me, sometimes just for a few hours and I can't even begin to express how grateful I am for that! 

Our anniversary reminds me of all the hours I spent making every little detail for our wedding, planning it out and tracking costs.

I started working hard as soon as we were engaged. My time when I wasn't at work (and even some time at work) was spent rolling silverware into napkins, ordering table cloths, pouring seeds into tiny seed packets for favors, and making all the other details for our special day.

I'm not saying it wasn't fun, I had a Fabulous time planning my own wedding and providing the slave labor. WHO NEEDS A WEDDING PLANNER?!

But, it was hard work and I'm so glad my husband spent the time, gas and money to see me and I'm so glad I worked as hard as I did because in my eyes our special day was absolutely perfect and I wouldn't change a thing.

                         

                         


                                        

                                        

                         

                         

Sweet Baby G.

I'm a few weeks late on this I know, but....... 

                     GRAYSON IS A MONTH YOUNG!

HOLY COW, where did the time go???

I plan to do one of these cute little picture updates every month with all of Baby Carrot's mile stone events. 

Enjoy the first of many to come!(on time hopefully)

Now,

another event that happened during Carrot's first month of life was NEWBORN pictures which I know for a fact Gigi has been just dying to see. And the pictures were an event let me tell ya, complete with baby peeing all over the wall of the photography studio. Too bad the photographer didn't get a shot of that!

Here are some of our favorites,

Hope you enjoy :)

Diaper clutch DIY.

Mommy tip #1 that no one told me: You don't always need everything that is in your diaper bag. DUH!

Well, I guess that one was really a no-brainer I didn't pick up on until just recently. But now that I've got the memo I've also got a trendy little diaper clutch. And you can have one too!

My DIY Diaper Clutch PATTERN.

DIRECTIONS:

{1}

Print out and cut out the pattern.

*Disclaimer* When I scanned in the pattern the solid line on which you cut the pattern out wouldn't show up in most places. You can measure a 1/2 inch outside of the dotted sewing lines and that's where you should cut.

{2}

Tape #1&#2 together but dont let the peices overlap.

Trace onto the wrong side of your fabric and cut out. Repeat.

This will be the linning and the outer facing fabric.

{3}

Trace #3/4 onto the wrong side of you fabric and cut out. Repeat for piece #4.

These will be the two pocket pieces.

{4}

Now take the two pocket pieces and fold over one long side half an inch and sew to make a nice finished edge on each one.

Depending on what your color scheme is you can kind of mix it up with your thread and make it fun. I went with black and white with orange neon ribbon so I chose orange neon thread to accent.

{5}

Decide which piece from step 2 you will use for the outer facing. Cut a long length of the ribbon that can be sewn down the center of the fabric and has enough length on both ends to tie a bow. Pin the ribbon on the right side (the side that will be facing out) of the fabric and sew both edges of the ribbon onto the fabric.

{6}

This part can be tricky so pay attention!

Place the outer facing fabric with the ribbon attached face up on your work surface. 

Pull the extra ribbon meant for bow tying towards the middle of the fabric and pin in place but make sure the fabric is still stretched out flat and you haven't scruntched it up.

Now, place both the pocket pieces wrong side up onto the fabric with the hemmed edges facing the middle (the non hemmed edges should match up with the edges of the larger fabric, AKA the hemmed edges shouldn't touch)

Lastly lay down linning fabric wrong side up.

*RECAP*

This makes a fabric sandwhich...

Outer Fabric: Right side/ribbon side up

Pocket Fabric: Wrong side up

Linning Fabric: Wrong side up

{7}

Pin all the edges together.

{8}

Sew around the edges like you would if you were sewing a pillow and leave about four inches so that you can turn the clutch right side out.

{9}

Turn the clutch right side out and close up the hole left in the edges.

{10} 

Your clutch is ready to use!

Baby couture.

First of all............ Look at how ADORABLE my baby is!!!!!!

Had enough? of course not, feel free to keep looking.

OKAY, moving on.

Lately I've been feeling like I could be some kind of super cool baby fashion designer. After making all kinds of cute little onesies for Baby Carrot I decided to try something a little harder.

I found a sweet and FREE pattern online for a baby snuggler or swaddler or sleep sack or as my husband called it a sleeping bag. Whatever it is you might call it, it's pretty much the best thing ever.

Baby Carrot loves being wrapped up to sleep so it's super helpful at keeping him wrapped during the night or naptime.

I'm providing you with the PATTERN and then my own two cents. It really is easier than it looks, I was a little nervous at first. Not that I'm a terrible seamstress or anything it's just that sometimes  my projects don't turn out if it isn't like curtains or a pillow. But miraculously this one turned out FABULOUS, even though I went rogue.

HINTS, TIPS & SHORTCUTS....I mean, advice.

So here's the dirty on this pattern, print it out and follow the directions.....just kidding, but really directions are important.

I didn't follow the directions per se.

My boy is LONG! If there was any hope of this snuggler to fit him for more than a week I was going to need to improvise and create a pattern to fit him. If you too have this same Long-baby issue print the pattern, cut it out and trace it onto tissue paper and elongate or expand the areas necessary. OR you can always trace your baby (what I did). Just make sure there is enough room on all sides for sewing and it won't be super tight on your sweetie pie.

"The pattern uses velcro, why did you use ribbon Holly?"

I'm glad you asked, because I'm out of velcro and I'm too impatient to wait until I get more, but that's only HALF the truth. I found that ribbon is a little more adjustable. I can basically tie Carrot in however tight or loose he wants. Also my kid is kind of handsie and sometimes he is just plain angry if he can't touch his face, so I can criss-cross the "wings" of the snuggler under his arms/across his chest and he's much happier. If you want to use the ribbon method as well, cut the ribbon to the desired length, find the middle, pin the middle of the ribbon on the middle of the back between the wings. continue to pin the ribbon down both wings. Sew both edges of the ribbon up one wing across the back and down the other wing. Also don't forget to finish the ends of the ribbon or it might unravel. 

That's it, like I said it's pretty simple but if you want help or have questions feel free to ask. I can try to help :)